UH Takes Action to Facilitate Proper Disposal of Unused Medications

CLEVELAND – UH has taken many proactive steps to help mitigate the opioid epidemic in our community. One of our approaches has been to promote responsible use and disposal of medications. This includes both opioid and non-opioid medications. The best way to dispose of unused or expired medications is to take them to an official disposal location.

Last year just before the pandemic hit, UH took action to facilitate proper disposal of unused medications by installing MedSafe locked disposal containers at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children. However, due to visitor restrictions put in place because of COVID-19, UH was unable to share the news of this important resource.

With April 24 serving as National Prescription Drug Take Back Day combined with the fact that our visitor level is now at Orange status, we wanted to take this opportunity to broadly communicate that these MedSafe containers are now available during operating hours for UH caregivers, as well as UH patients and families, to drop off your unused or expired opioids or other medications.

Accepted items:

• Prescription medications, in original packaging if possible (Note: we suggest blacking out your personal information with a marker): schedules II-V controlled substances and non-controlled drugs.
• Over-the-counter medications, in original packaging if possible
• Liquid medication bottles, less than 4 ounces in Ziploc bag

Unacceptable items:

• Illegal drugs;
• Needles/syringes or sharps containers
• Medical devices/batteries
• Aerosol cans/inhalers;
• Chemicals;
• Mercury-containing devices;
• Radiopharmaceuticals;
• Liquid antineoplastic agents

MedSafe Box Locations:
UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
2101 Adelbert Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106
Kiosk in main lobby near the My UHCare sign-up station

UH Rainbow Center for Women & Children
5805 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103. Kiosk in main lobby across from Reception Desk

Other locations outside of UH for disposing unused or expired medications can be found by visiting RXDrugDropBox.org or you can use a drug disposal bag given to you by a health care provider or pharmacist. As a reminder, you should never throw unused or expired medications in the trash or flush down the drain or toilet.