The community is invited to clean out their medicine cabinets and drop off old or unused prescription and over-the-counter medication at the Rexall Pharma Plus in downtown Owen Sound from September 24 – 30. Everyone who drops off medication will receive a voucher for a free ticket, while supplies last, for any Wednesday evening Owen Sound Attack regular season game.
This Medication Misuse campaign promotes the proper disposal and storage of medication and aims to reduce the amount of circulating unused/expired medication (especially opioid pain relievers). Unused medication should always be returned to a pharmacy for proper disposal. This campaign to prevent Medication Misuse is supported by Rexall Pharma Plus, the Owen Sound Attack and the Grey Bruce Health Unit.
The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (2017) shows:
- 1 in 10 students (Grade 7-12) have used a prescription opioid pain reliever (e.g. Percocet, Percodan, Tylenol 3, Demerol and codeine) without a prescription in the past year;
- 55% of teens who indicated they had misused prescription opioids report obtaining the drugs from a parent or sibling;
- Non-medicinal use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicine by students in grades 7-12 has increased from 6.4% in 2015 to 9.2% currently.
Medication Drop Off
Date: September 24 – 30, 2018
Location: Rexall Pharma Plus, 963 2nd Ave. E., Owen Sound, ON
(Medications cannot be returned in vials or blister packs. Meds must be emptied into the paper bags provided when returned)