Fall Cleaning: Don't Miss Shed The Meds Event

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Take a minute to clean out your medicine cabinet or bureau top because New York State Assemblyman Kevin Byrne will host his annual Shed the Meds prescription drug drop-off event Sept. 14.

The Shed the Meds program helps raise awareness about the dangers of keeping old prescriptions drugs around the house or of disposing of them improperly.

Safe disposal helps protect the environment and eliminates the risk of these drugs getting into the hands of small children or those who might misuse them.

The Centers for Disease Control reports that 50,000 young children end up in emergency rooms each year because they got into medicines while an adult wasn’t looking.

Also, improper disposal of medications, such as pouring them down the drain or flushing them down the toilet, can pollute local waterways. SEE: Researchers Map High Levels of Drugs in The Hudson River

Moreover, taking expired medical products can be risky, the Federal Drug Administration says. Some expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth. Sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. Once the expiration date has passed there is no guarantee that the medicine will be safe and effective.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14

WHERE: Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, 741 Rt. 6, Mahopac NY

The event is held in conjunction with the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, Carmel Police Department, The Prevention Council of Putnam, CTC Carmel, NIH HEAL Initiative, and Drug Crisis in Our Backyard.