Wichita Mountains Prevention Network & Pathways to a Healthier You Prescription Drug Take Back Event

The Importance of Properly Disposing of Prescription Medications

Safely disposing of your prescription medications can help keep family members or others from removing them from your medicine cabinet or home intending to misuse or abuse them. Among adolescents 12 and older who report using pain medication, an estimated 70% got them from a relative or friend’s medicine cabinet.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 91 people die every day from a drug overdose. The safe removal of unwanted or unused medications protects you and others, especially children and pets in your home, from accidental use.

The CDC reports that more than 60,000 young children visit the emergency room each year because they get into medicines when their parents or caregivers are not looking. WMPN and Pathways to a Healthier You will have a drug take back event, on Tuesday, June 27 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the 1st Baptist Church, in the Life Center Building, 213 N. Broadway St. Marlow. You can bring your unwanted medicine and receive a Free medication lockbox to store your medications safely.

*We cannot accept illicit drugs, liquids, needles, or inhalers during this event. 1st Baptist Church in Marlow is also hosting the Oklahoma Blood Institute Community Blood Drive, and free COVID antibody testing will be available provided by OUHSC from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m..

For more information on safe use, storage, and disposal of medications, contact Gina Olheiser at golheiser@ wmpn.org and follow WMPN on Facebook. Pathways to a Healthier You is a Community Health Improvement Organization with a mission to empower the community to develop healthy, responsible, and involved individuals in Stephens and Jefferson Counties.

For more information, visit www.pathwaystoahealthieryou.com Wichita Mountains Prevention Network (WMPN) is a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe communities through promoting proven substance abuse prevention strategies among teens and adults. WMPN is a grant funded by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

For more information, visit www. wmpn.org Funded By: Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services and Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration