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Storing expired or unwanted medications in the home poses a significant health risk to families.  In Kansas, state reporting shows 1 in 5 poisoning-related emergency department visits are in children 4 and younger.  Of these, 70% were caused by drug exposure.

The Kansas Medical Disposal Program was launched April 2012.  Before this there was no year-round method for Kansans to safely and conveniently rid their homes of uncontrolled medication.  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management website has a map so individuals and long-term care facilities can identify the closest drop-off location.

Law enforcement agencies host drug-take-back events annually to dispose of narcotics and controlled substances (examples are pain, anxiety, and attention-deficit disorder medicines).

The hope is that these programs will reduce the rate of injury and death due to unintentional drug poisoning.   It is not safe to dump medicines in a drain as medications generally bypass wastewater treatment facilities and can affect our water supply.

More information at http://www.kdheks.gov/waste/about_medwaste.html