Related links
There are many reasons a person may hang on to prescription drugs. Medications can be expensive and time-consuming to obtain. It’s reasonable to expect a person might want to keep left over medication in case they are needed in the future. Unfortunately, this tendency can have negative consequences.
St. Cloud State University Health Services is taking action with Drug Take Back Week April 16-27 unveiling a drug drop box that is able to be used throughout the year.
Using a dropbox to safely dispose of unwanted or expired medications is essential for the health of your physical environment and prevents misuse of medications,” said Erica Karger-Gatzow, Student Health Services’ assistant director for Health Proportion and Marketing. “As a result of a generous donation from the JVP Foundation and a collaboration between U-Choose and Student Health Services, St. Cloud State has a safe, secure way for the campus community to dispose of unwanted and expired medications all year.”
To dispose of extra prescription medications, some people used to flush them down the toilet. Over time, this practice has taken a huge toll on the environment. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, “Many of these substances have properties that can interfere with the functioning of hormones in animals and people. Some mimic the effects of hormones in animals and negatively impact growth and development.”
The way to safely dispose of unused prescription medications is by dropping it off at a “drug take back” site. In the State of Minnesota, all Sheriff’s offices have places to drop off medications. For campus convenience, a drop-box has been installed in the pharmacy at Student Health Services.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring their unused over-the-counter or prescription pills, ointments and patches, as well as vitamins or over the counter pills to the dropbox within Student Health Services.
“As part of our campus mission, we work diligently to educate students to be responsible global citizens. That mission includes to be an informed healthcare consumer as well as a steward to our environment,” said Karger-Gatzow.
Student Health Services and its pharmacy is located on the first floor in Hill Hall.
