October in Oklahoma is an opportune time to rid your home of leftover medicine and used medical sharps, according to a public health campaign that launched October 12. The campaign, which is run by the Oklahoma Meds and Sharps Disposal Committee (OMSDC) with the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) aims to provide Oklahomans with information about safe disposal practices, connect residents with convenient disposal programs, and raise awareness about the reasons safe disposal is important.
More than 100,000 Oklahoma residents use medical sharps, such as needles and syringes, to self-administer medications, generating up to 60 million used needles annually. Improper disposal of these needles, whether flushed or trashed, results in environmental contamination and poses significant health risks to trash haulers, sewage plant operators and the public.聽聽
鈥淚n addition to the public health and environmental risks, medical sharps that are thrown in the trash pose a safety hazard to sanitation workers,鈥� said Patrick Riley, Environmental Programs Manager for Solid 91仓库 and Sustainability at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). 鈥淲e know that safe collection sites are needed, and these take-back programs are an effective way of accomplishing safer disposal.鈥澛犅�
Used medicines are another water quality and public safety concern. The U.S. EPA reports that flushed medications create as much as 2,300 tons of hazardous waste annually and can pollute drinking water and harm aquatic animals. Additionally, throwing medication in the trash increases the risk that they are abused or accidentally ingested by pets and children.聽聽聽
On October 26, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host聽National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a twice-per-year nationwide event that provides opportunities to safely dispose of unwanted medications. The website has a take-back event locator.聽聽Many communities in Oklahoma will host collection events on October 26 in conjunction with DEA鈥檚 take-back day, and in the weeks before and after. The following locations offer opportunities to dispose of used medical sharps and leftover medication:聽聽
- October 19, 2024 鈥揃roken Arrow Trash Bash and Recycling Rally聽Location: Broken Arrow Maintenance Center, 1700 W Detroit St, Broken Arrow, OK 74012聽Accepts: Medical Sharps聽聽Hours: 8:00am 鈥� 12:00pm聽Contact: Galea Albano, (918) 313-6996;聽[email protected]
- October 26, 2024 鈥� Cleveland CountyLocations:聽Cleveland County Health Department, 424 S Eastern Ave, Moore, OK 73160聽Cleveland County Health Department, 250 12th Ave NE, Norman, OK 73071聽Norman Veterans 91仓库, 1776 E. Robinson, Norman, OK 73071聽Absentee Shawnee Tribe Little Axe Health Center, 15951 Little Axe Dr., Norman, OK 73026聽Accepts: Medications and medical sharps聽聽Hours: 10:00am 鈥� 2:00pm聽Contact: Emma Rauser,聽[email protected]
- November 1, 2024 鈥� Duncan, Oklahoma Prescription Take-Back聽Location: Goodwill, HWY 81, Duncan, OK聽Accepts: Medications聽聽Hours: 10:00am 鈥� 2:00pm聽Contact: Gina Olheiser,聽[email protected]
- Additional bi-annual events can be found on the OMSDC website.
If you can鈥檛 make it to these events, year-round take-back sites may also be available in your area. OMSDC鈥檚聽interactive take-back site map identifies locations throughout Oklahoma where residents can safely dispose of medical sharps and medications. The map, developed by PSI and OMSDC to increase convenience for Oklahomans, also includes relevant information, including what items the location accepts, the business hours, and contact information.聽
鈥淭he Cleveland County Health Improvement Plan Substance Abuse Community Coalition is excited to offer the much-needed opportunity to safely dispose of sharps and medications at four central locations this fall,鈥� said Emma Rauser, Health Educator Lead for Cleveland County Health Department & The Well. 鈥淚n April 2024, we collected over 326 pounds of sharps, thanks to grant funding from DEQ, technical support from PSI, and resounding participation from the community. We are happy to do it again this month in collaboration with the DEA National Drug Take Back Day.鈥澛�
鈥淪HOTS extends our gratitude to PSI, DEQ, and OMSDC for their support in our third year of collecting sharps,鈥� said Jennifer Sharp, SHOTS Executive Director. 鈥淪HOTS collected 631 pounds of sharps waste at our last event in Tulsa, and we remain committed to promoting responsible sharps disposal practices to ensure a cleaner, safer environment.鈥澛犅�