Medication Cleanout helps residents safely dispose of unwanted, expired medicines

Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News
·2 min read

Amarillo residents will have the opportunity to safely dispose of medications they have on hand that are expired, unused or unnecessary during the Medication Cleanout at Texas Tech on Saturday.

The event is in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center (TPPC) and is managed by the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy. It will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, located at 1400 South Coulter St.

In this March 2022 file photo, a volunteer graduate student marks out information on medication during the Medication Cleanout event at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.
In this March 2022 file photo, a volunteer graduate student marks out information on medication during the Medication Cleanout event at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

This marks the 91st Medication Cleanout event since its inception in 2009, during which thousands of pounds of medications and sharps have been collected and properly disposed of.

According to a news release, this event offers a convenient, drive-thru, drop-off format, allowing participants to discard their medications without even having to leave their vehicles. Yard signs will direct drivers, and residents are asked to keep medications in their original containers for easier disposal. Syringes and sharps will also be accepted; however, only household medications can be dropped off due to environmental restrictions. Medications from clinics, pharmacies or businesses will not be accepted.

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, located at 1400 South Coulter St., is hosting a Medication Cleanout on Saturday in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, located at 1400 South Coulter St., is hosting a Medication Cleanout on Saturday in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center.

“Medication Cleanout is all about making it easy for people to get rid of medicines they no longer need,” said Ronica Farrar, an educator with the TPPC, in the release. “Unused or expired medications sitting around the house can easily become dangerous — especially in homes with young children, teenagers or elderly family members. It’s crucial to take action and remove those risks.”

These unsecured medications can pose a serious risk, Farrar stressed: “Medications can be a source of accidental poisoning for kids or a temptation for teens experimenting with drugs. Adults and seniors also face the danger of confusing medications or taking ones that are no longer necessary.”

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, located at 1400 South Coulter St., is hosting a Medication Cleanout on Saturday in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center.
The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, located at 1400 South Coulter St., is hosting a Medication Cleanout on Saturday in partnership with the Texas Panhandle Poison Center.

Farrar emphasized the importance of taking action: “Now, more than ever, it’s time to clean out your medicine cabinets. By safely disposing of these medications, you’re not just protecting your family from potential harm — you might be saving a life. Poisoning, often caused by medication overdose, is currently the third leading method of suicide in the U.S.”

For more details about the Medication Cleanout, contact (806) 414-9495 or visit www.MedicationCleanout.com.

In this March 2022 file photo, volunteers guide cars through during the Medication Cleanout event at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
In this March 2022 file photo, volunteers guide cars through during the Medication Cleanout event at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.
In this March 2022 file photo, Texas Panhandle Poison Center Managing Director Jeanie Jaramillo-Stametz looks over a list of medications with a graduate medical student at the Medication Cleanout event.
In this March 2022 file photo, Texas Panhandle Poison Center Managing Director Jeanie Jaramillo-Stametz looks over a list of medications with a graduate medical student at the Medication Cleanout event.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Safely dispose of household pills at Medication Cleanout at TTUHSC