Carthage Area Hospital among locations for prescription-drug disposal in DEC program

CARTHAGE, N.Y. — Residents can now drop off unused, expired, or unwanted prescription medications any time inside the main entrance at Carthage Area Hospital. 

It’s part of the hospital’s partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in the pilot pharmaceutical take-back program, Carthage Area Hospital said in a news release.

Carthage Area Hospital is one of 80 retail pharmacies, hospitals, and long-term care facilities across the state participating in the program.

Program participants statewide began accepting waste medications in April. A medication-collection box is available inside the hospital’s main entrance.

“It’s important that we continue to do everything we can to combat prescription-drug abuse. This is another great step the hospital has taken as a leader in that effort. It also offers patients and Carthage area residents the added convenience of not having to travel to properly dispose of unwanted medications,” Jim Brady, director of pharmacy at Carthage Area Hospital, said.

Items permitted for disposal in the hospital’s medication collection box include: prescriptions (schedule II to V controlled and non-controlled substances); prescription ointments; vitamins and prescription patches; pet medications; and over-the-counter medications.

Items not permitted for disposal include: Needles, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions, liquids and hydrogen peroxide. The hospital offers a separate program for safe disposal of needles and other sharps through its housekeeping department.

For additional information, those interested can call (315) 493-1000.

Abuse of prescription drugs is a “major” public-health problem in New York, Carthage Area Hospital said.

Studies show that a “majority” of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. The Atlanta, Georgia–based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one U.S. resident dies every 16 minutes from a drug overdose and has declared this public-health threat an “epidemic.”

“By placing medication drop boxes in community pharmacies, hospitals and long-term care facilities, we are increasing opportunities for New Yorkers to properly and easily dispose of unwanted medications,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “Participants in New York’s free drug take-back program are protecting their communities and the environment.”

Under the drug take-back program, the DEC provides medication-collection boxes and will pay for the disposal of waste pharmaceuticals the hospital collects for two years.

The statewide pilot pharmaceutical take-back program is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund.

The DEC will use resources from the fund to cover the full cost of purchasing U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-compliant medication drop boxes, as well as the cost of pick up, transport, and destruction of collected waste pharmaceuticals.

“Improve” water quality

Officials also say the disposal program will help to improve water quality while reducing the amount of drugs flushed into public sewer and water systems.

Flushed medications have been found in New York lakes, rivers, and streams and “can negatively affect the waterways,” according to the news release.

The U.S. Geological Survey in 1999 and 2000 conducted a national study that found low levels of drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives, and steroids in 80 percent of rivers and streams tested. The drugs included antibiotics, hormones, contraceptives, and steroids.

Medications “adversely” affect fish and other aquatic wildlife and increase the development of drug-resistant bacteria, according to the hospital’s release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com