BREWER, Maine (April 23, 2024) — On April 27, Northern Light Health asks those in our community to join in the national effort to dispose of prescription drugs in a safe, convenient manner while also reducing the risk of medications getting into the wrong hands and causing harm or potential substance abuse.

Dennis Wood, PharmD, director of Pharmacy for Northern Light Pharmacy, shares, “Statistically, a large majority of people who use prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes obtain that medication from a friend or family member. We are joining others across the nation in encouraging people to clean out medicine cabinets, drawers, and other locations of unneeded or expired medication and dropping it off at a designated prescription drug take back location.”

Northern Light Pharmacy offers convenient and easy prescription medication drop off at any of its pharmacies every day. Many law enforcement locations also offer local prescription drug drop off sites. Additional locations can be found on the United States Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration website.

“The proper disposal of medication is very important,” adds Dr. Wood. “If they are thrown in the trash, they not only may be taken by a person they were not intended for, but they may also have harmful environmental effects as well. Improper disposal of medications in the trash, down the drain, or toilet can leach into water systems threatening both humans and marine ecosystems.”

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, as of October 28, 2023, 17.9 million of unneeded medications have been safely removed from communities across the nation as part of National Prescription Take Back Day.