In response to the drug overdose epidemic in the United States, every year there is an effort to encourage individuals to properly dispose of unused medications. National Drug Take Back Day will be held Saturday, April 30, across the country, including locally in Prowers County.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 at the Lamar City Complex, 102 E. Parmenter St. individuals can dispose of unused and expired medications. To get in the drop-off line, pull in from Parmenter Street.

Tablet and capsule prescriptions as well as any over-the-counter medicine are allowed. Sharps, inhalers, nebulizers and chemotherapy medications will NOT be accepted.

Disposing Medications

If you have any questions about the disposal of expired medications or other pharmacy services offered at Prowers Medical Center, call 719-336-6740 or go to prowersmedical.com.

Please note that the Prowers Medical Center Pharmacy cannot take back any unused or expired drugs.

Why is National Drug Take Back Day Important?

According to the 2021 survey from National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2020, 9.3 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 5.1 million misused prescription stimulants. The misuse of legally prescribed drugs can often lead to increased numbers of drug addiction and overdose deaths.

From May 2019 to May 2021, Colorado’s drug overdose rate spiked by 50%. More than 1800 deaths were reported in 2021 – that is the highest number and rate in state history, dating back to 1975.

One of the places where abused prescription drugs are most commonly obtained is in a home — often in the medicine cabinet of a family member or friend. Robin Thacker, Pharmacist at Prowers Medical Center, said disposing of unused or expired medications is important when it comes to public safety and public health.

“It’s important to keep unused or expired medication out of the wrong hands,” she said. “That means keeping it out of children’s hands and out of the hands of people who will abuse these medications for unintended purposes.”

Disposal Recommendations for Unused/Expired Opioids and Medications

Prescription opioid misuse is one of the most common types of illegal drug use in the country. Common prescription opioids are hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine, fentanyl and oxymorphone. It is important to immediately dispose of them when you no longer medically need them, to keep your family safe by reducing access to these drugs.

The best way to properly and safely dispose of opioids and all other expired and unused medications is to drop them off at a designated medicine take-back location.

Individuals can find a safe disposal location year-round in Lamar is at the Prowers County Sheriff’s Office, 103 E. Oak St. This drop-off box is in the lobby area and is open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. At this location, individuals can safely and anonymously drop off unused and expired prescription medications, including liquids still contained in the bottle, unopened insulin vials and tablet and capsule-form medications. Sharps are not accepted at the drop-off box.

The Lamar Police Department also is a convenient drop-off location that accepts medications in tablet form only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“This is the best and safest means of disposal,” Thacker said. “The Sheriff’s Office and Police Department are safe, non-judgmental locations for these returns. These drop-off locations allow you to get these medications out of your home as soon as is necessary.”

If a designated take-back spot is not available near you, check the FDA’s flush list to see if you can dispose of the medication in your bathroom. If your specific medication is on the FDA’s list, you can flush it down the toilet — again, allowing for the medication to be out of your home and exposed for misuse. Your last option is to throw it away in a household trash following the directions at www.FDA.gov/DrugDisposal, where you can also find the FDA’s official flush list.