As a senior, did you know that National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day is always on the third Friday in April? It is a day that aims to raise awareness and effectively rid homes of unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications. The day also educates about the proper disposal of medicines. We would like to share some safety tips with you about how to clean out your medicine cabinet.
1.Do you have any expired drugs that have been sitting in your medicine cabinet, nightstand, or kitchen cabinets? Do you have any drugs that may look unusual, smell, leaking or discolored? These are all red flags and any drugs that you even suspect are bad should be discarded.
2. Are you aware that any of your drugs could potentially be misused or abused by family members, friends, or visitors? You may think your medicine cabinet is safe because it does not contain any opioids, but opioids are not the only problem. Medications like ADHD medicine, sleeping pills, and antidepressants can be misused and cause poisoning that may be fatal. Again, it is important to keep your medicine cabinet protected, and dispose of medications past their prime.
3. Did you know that it is important for you to know the proper disposal of unused or expired medicines, both for your health and for the environment? Remember, medications left in your medicine cabinet past the expiration date or their shelf life, or disposed of improperly, can be a danger to you. If you need to dispose of any medications, there are proper ways and laws to do so. Medications thrown into the garbage leak into the soil at landfills and contaminate the area. Flushing medications down the toilet should never be an option because if you flush medications they may become part of the water supply which can have ill effects on drinking water, and on aquatic life in your area. In fact, in the worst case scenario it can even get into the bloodstream of fish and shellfish, causing even more harm to humans and other sea animals who consume these creatures.
4. Interestingly enough there are also two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days. One is shortly after National Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet Day on the last Saturday in April. The second National Drug Takeback Day is in October. Many civic organizations, in addition to medical offices and pharmacies, may have bins in public areas where you can dispose of your unused or expired medications by placing them directly into these bins. The authorities will then dispose of them properly.
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. No matter where you are in life’s journey, we can help. The most important thing is to protect yourself and those you love. Whether you need to update your estate plan, are preparing for future long-term care needs, or have a loved one entering or already in a nursing home, we are ready to assist you. We have three convenient locations and are ready to serve the communities around Highlands and Polk County, Florida. Take your first step by contacting us today.
