AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — Ronica Farrar from the Texas Panhandle Poison Center joined Today in Amarillo on Monday morning and discussed TPPC’s upcoming 91st Medication Cleanout that happens this Saturday.
The cleanout will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy at 1400 South Coulter St., Farrar said.
TTUHSC said the event allows people to bring expired or unnecessary medications for proper disposal without leaving their vehicles.
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Health experts warned that old medications can pose serious risks. TTUHSC leaders said expired medications could be a source of accidental poisoning for children, may be accessed by teens experimenting with drugs, and even pose hazards to adults and the elderly. It’s easy to confuse bottles or take medications that are no longer needed.
According to TTUHSC, nearly 42% of adults in the U.S. said they personally know someone who has died from a drug overdose, according to a recent survey by RAND Corporation. While some of these cases may involve illicit drugs, a significant portion involves medications that are easily accessible in the home. Removing these medications can help reduce the risk of poisoning or accidental misuse.