CVS/pharmacy announced today that it will collect expired or unused medications from the public at two collection events in Rhode Island to be held at stores in the town of Coventry and the city of Cranston in April.
As the 40th anniversary of Earth Day approaches on April 22, 2010, CVS/pharmacy will help consumers properly dispose of their unwanted medication and prevent these drugs from potentially contaminating the environment.
The collection events will be held on:
- Saturday, April 3, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: CVS/pharmacy in Coventry, 2250 New London Turnpike (at Centre of New England)
- Saturday, April 10, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM: CVS/pharmacy in Cranston, 681 Reservoir Avenue
Members of the public are invited to bring their expired or unused medication, both prescription or over-the-counter, to either CVS/pharmacy collection event, which will be held in the parking lot of each location. CVS pharmacists will staff an on-site Mobile Pharmacy Unit to identify and catalogue the returned drugs.
"The spring season is the perfect time for consumers to clean out their medicine cabinets to dispose of medications that have expired or are otherwise no longer being used," said Papatya Tankut, RPh, Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS/pharmacy. "By bringing these unwanted drugs to a CVS collection event in April, consumers will be helping to protect the environment. All medications collected at these events will be properly disposed of and destroyed."
CVS/pharmacy's medication collection events will be conducted with the support of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the Rhode Island State Board of Pharmacy, and the Coventry and Cranston Police Departments. Local police departments will be present at both collection events to take possession of any controlled substances that are brought for disposal.
CVS/pharmacy recommends the following tips to consumers regarding the safe storage of their medication and when it is the proper time to discontinue use: