Medication take-back program offered

Presbyterian Healthcare Services offers a medication take-back program for disposal of leftover, unused and out-of-date prescription and over-the counter medications at nine locations in New Mexico, including Trigg Memorial Hospital in Tucumcari.

The green disposal bin at Trigg Hospital is in the PMG Family Medicine clinic.

“We want to help provide a safe, easy way for people to clean out their medicine cabinets and dispose of leftover prescription medications,” said Erica Downing, executive director of Pharmacy Services at Presbyterian Healthcare Services.

“We also want to remind people that they should not flush drugs down the toilet because trace amounts can appear in community drinking water. We encourage anyone in our community to come in and look for the big green receptacle to drop off unused medications.”

Some items can’t be deposited in receptacles, such as inhalers and needles, but staff at each site will be available if needed for questions.

In addition to the Tucumcari hospital, other secure drop-off locations are at Plains Regional Medical Center in Clovis, Lincoln County Medical Center in Ruidoso, Presbyterian Espanola Hospital, two locations of Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital in Albuquerque, Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, Presbyterian Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho, Presbyterian Santa Fe Medical Center and Socorro General Hospital.

Unused medications in the home can contribute to drug abuse. Two-thirds of teens and young adults who abuse prescription medicine get them from friends or family, including the home medicine cabinet, according to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. More than 17,000 people die each year from prescription opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.