UHS plays key role in medication take-back event

The UHS Pharmacy Vestal, in conjunction with the Broome County Sheriff’s Office and Broome County Health Department, hosted a drive-through unused-prescription-drug collection on April 27.

The UHS location collected the most medications of any site in Broome County, said Jeb Schumacher, PharmD, supervising pharmacist at Vestal.

“We will be the flagship location for a similar collection that will occur in the fall,” he said.

The collection was held over a four-hour period at 4417 Vestal Parkway East.

All varieties of unused medication (controlled substances and non-controlled substances, tablets, capsules, liquids, inhalers, creams and other items)—but no needles or sharps--were accepted.

More than 500 pounds of unused medications were collected county-wide on April 27.

The event was part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of unused and unwanted prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.