A safe, secure option

BREWSTER – A metal kiosk has been installed at Three Rivers Hospital (TRH) to allow area residents a free, safe and secure option to dispose of expired medications. It is located near the admitting desk in the emergency room at the northeast end of the building on 507 Hospital Way.

The kiosk is the result of a cooperative effort with the American Rx Group last year to bring the disposal program to Brewster. With funding from a $10,000 grant courtesy of the North Central Accountable Community of Health, TRH Chief Nursing Officer Gretchen Aguilar and Kevin Walker, PharmD, RPH, led the effort to provide the drug take-back service.

“In exchange for the grant, TRH pledged to provide a safe medication disposal method, provide community education about opioids, and increase access to naloxone, a synthetic drug used to help treat opioid addition,” a TRH media release said.

The kiosk is locked and secured with a sign explaining which medications are acceptable and which are not.

“Permitted items include prescription pills, ointments, and patches; pet medications; vitamins; and over-the-counter medications,” the release explained. “Items that cannot be dropped into the kiosk include syringes, inhalers, aerosol cans, thermometers, lotions or liquids, and hydrogen peroxide.”

TRH Board Vice-Chair Vicki Orford was among the first to deposit expired medications into the kiosk for disposal.

“What a great service for our district,” said Orford. “Not only can I get rid of my old prescriptions, but now I have a place to get rid of my family's medicine safely. I always felt guilty just flushing them in the bathroom, and I didn't want to put them in the garbage. This takes only a second to drop off and nobody asks any questions.”

TRH Commissioner Leslie McNamara also endorsed the new service.

“We are honored to show our continuing commitment to the people in our hospital district with this new, safe, convenient and anonymous disposal site at Three Rivers Hospital for old or unused prescription drugs,” McNamara said.