Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center is hosting a prescription drug collection day in conjunction with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Piedmont Plaza I, 1920 W. First St., Winston-Salem.
Representatives from Wake Forest Baptist and the Winston-Salem Police Department will be on hand to collect unused or expired prescription medications, including pills, capsules and patches, for proper disposal.
“Proper and safe disposal of medication has never been more important,” said Chandrika Garner, M.D., assistant professor of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and an organizer of the collection event. “Most people are very well aware of the opioid crisis, but may not know that other prescription medications can also be very harmful if taken improperly, either accidentally or deliberately.”
This event brings together a group of Wake Forest Baptist anesthesiologists and pharmacists to help increase awareness of proper medication disposal and decrease the incidence of stolen, lost and misused medicine.
According to the DEA, 456 tons of medication was collected nationwide during the most recent Take Back Day, held last fall in communities across the country.
In addition to this event, medication drop-off boxes are always available at seven Wake Forest Baptist outpatient pharmacy locations, during each pharmacy’s regular business hours.
This event is part of Wake Forest Baptist’s comprehensive action plan across its health system – including research, education, prevention, screening and treatment – to help reduce the opioid epidemic in our community and across the country.
Media Relations
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228