Southington, CT residents return record numbers of unwanted Rx Drugs at 'take-back" event

As published in the Southington Citizen May 4, 2012

Town Councilman, Chris Palmieri and pharmacist
Cynthia Enright greet arriving motorist.

On Saturday, April 28^th, local citizens of Southington, CT and surrounding towns responded in record numbers to the Medical Return Program’s call for expired and no longer needed drugs. The scene at the Southington Water Department was a steady stream of cars from 10 am to 2 pm as 483 cars stopped by to drop off outdated prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The primary purpose of the  program is to dispose of drugs and chemicals in a manner that prevents contamination of our water supply when using our everyday trash disposal systems. However, it is important to note that the medical return program also removes such no longer needed drugs from homes where they might fall into the hands of children and others who might use them abusively. 

The water departments of Bristol and Southington combined efforts in this 4^th annual collection alongside the Southington Police Department, faculty members, students and professionals of the Connecticut College of Pharmacy who were also assisted by several local registered pharmacists.  

Fifty-one participating volunteers included members of Community Emergency Response Team who handled traffic control smoothly while others, notably members of STEPS, (Southington’s Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success), served as greeters who also documented the responses of those driving through to a few brief questions,.  They collected packages and worked as runners delivering the return materials collected to a team of pharmacists who examined, identified, classified, separated, counted and recorded the details of the collection. 

John Dobbins verifies and signs off
documentation of drugs collected

John Dobbins, R.Ph, reported that the collection resulted in nine 55-gallon drums of caps/tabs, liquids and creams/ointments.  There also were five smaller containers of inhalers, aerosols, chemicals and other flammable items collected.  Controlled substances, e.g. narcotics, were handled by another team under strict security. In total, there were 810 prescriptions of controlled substances, according to Dobbins, including 15,969 caps/tabs/patches and 5,614 mls of liquid substances.

In accordance with state and federal law, controlled substances are transferred with their records through the local police department to the State Drug Control Department for ultimate incineration under strict guidelines. 

Volunteer pharmacists of CT School of Pharmacy
Detailing every Rx and drug item collected.

Oddly interesting facts from this year’s collection:  The oldest documented Rx was dated 1974; most unusual Rx, a Toothache Wax by Rexall, a 1940's era pain reliever for use when you couldn't get to a dentist;  another unusual Rx item, Diastat Rectal Gel, a diazepam for seizures; most unusual non RX item was a case of unused Texas Catheter.