Health & Fitness
Edward-Elmhurst Health launches Medication Take-Back program
The new Medication Take-Back program provides accessible, safe places for the public to dispose of dangerous medication.
Today, 77 percent of opioid prescription medications taken by new users are obtained from a friend or relative. Sixty-two percent of teens who admit taking medication for non-medical reasons say they get drugs from medicine cabinets in their homes.
As part of its Opioid Task Force initiative, Edward-Elmhurst Health is launching a new Medication Take-Back program to provide accessible, safe places for the public to dispose of dangerous medication.
Safe medication disposal kiosks have been installed near the South Lobby (in the walkway between the South parking garage and South Lobby off of Osler Dr.) of Edward Hospital, 801 S. Washington St., Naperville, and in the vestibule of door 28 near the Emergency Department (just to the right of the main ED entrance) at Elmhurst Hospital, 155 E. Brush Hill Rd. Both are accessible to the public 24/7 365 days a year. The program is partially funded by the Edward and Elmhurst Medical Executive Committees.
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“We want to help our community protect their families and friends by providing an accessible, friendly and safe place to dispose of dangerous medications,” says Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, Executive Vice President, Chief Physician Executive, Edward-Elmhurst Health. “We’re also protecting the environment by reducing drug residue in water tables. Studies show that 46 million Americans in 24 major metropolitan areas have pharmaceutical chemicals and hormones in their drinking water.”
Simply bring your unwanted, unused or expired controlled medications to one of the locations and drop them in the kiosk – just like putting a letter in a mailbox.
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Accepted items: unused or expired controlled medications.
Restricted Items: needles/syringes, liquids, aerosols, inhalers, thermometers, illegal drugs.
The Edward and Elmhurst pharmacies will monitor the kiosks, collect and seal the unwanted medication and arrange pick-up of the drugs on a regular basis.
For more information about the Medication Take-Back program, visit EEHealth.org/MedTakeBack.
