University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic Host National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

CLEVELAND – University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic will partner to host National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at more than a dozen collection locations across Northeast Ohio.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is a biannual event where communities throughout the country set up collection sites for the safe disposal of expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications. Proper disposal of unused drugs can prevent accidental poisoning, misuse, and overdose.

“We want to ensure people can safely get rid of unused medications in their home,” said Michael Carlin, Vice President of Hospital Pharmacy Operations at University Hospitals. “These medications have the potential to be mishandled or abused. It’s why we are giving the community resources to intervene if someone in their life has an overdose.”

All UH drug take-back sites will offer free naloxone kits, and fentanyl test strips courtesy of Project DAWN. This continued effort to make naloxone widely available remains a key strategy in fighting the opioid epidemic. The comprehensive approach appears to be working to combat the opioid crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported provisional data predicting a nearly 24% decline in drug overdose deaths in the U.S. for the 12 months ending in September 2024, compared to the previous year. Although encouraging, overdose is still a leading cause of death for people between the ages of 18-44 and remains a public health emergency.

"We are proud to continue collaborating with University Hospitals on this important issue,” said Lindsey Amerine, PharmD, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Cleveland Clinic. “Ensuring the public has access to safe disposal of unused drugs is an important way to reduce accidental or deliberate misuse of medication in our communities. Drug Take-Back Day serves as a great reminder for individuals to check their medicine cabinets for prescriptions that should be removed from their homes.”

UH Ahuja, Lake West, Portage, and TriPoint medical centers will provide no-cost glucose, and blood pressure health screenings during this event.

“This continued collaboration between University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic is vital to ensure communities have the tools and support to dispose of unneeded medications,” said Jeanne Lackamp, MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry at UH Cleveland Medical Center and Director, Behavioral Health Institute at UH Health System. “Together we can prevent substance misuse.”

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Collection Locations:

·      Click here for information about University Hospitals locations and hours

·      Click here for information about Cleveland Clinic locations and hours