HEALTH and Walgreen’s Pharmacy will hold Rhode Island’s first-ever medicine take-back event on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at the Senior Center located at 1291 Hartford Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Rhode Islanders are invited to bring their unused or expired medicines for proper disposal. Many people discard unused or expired medicines into their drains or flush them down the toilet. Medications discarded in this way may reach our groundwater system causing potential contamination to our drinking water supply.

“Discarding medications in a responsible manner to prevent pollution and possible contamination to our drinking water is advisable. This event will help people understand how to practice proper medicine disposal”, said David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, Director, Rhode Island Department of Health.

Studies have shown the growing negative impact of antibiotics, anti-epileptics, endocrine disruptors and anti-inflammatory drugs in groundwater and its impact on human health and the environment. This event will help to educate people about ways to dispense expired medications so they are properly disposed of while acting as good environmental stewards.

For additional information about the medicine take-back event, visit www.health.ri.gov ###

Related links

• Department of Health