Pharmacy students partner with community to host annual medication cleanout

April 20, 2018 | College of Pharmacy |

The Harding University College of Pharmacy will facilitate a drive-thru medication cleanout event April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Henry and Grace Farrar Center for Health Sciences on campus.

“By dropping off your unused and expired medications at the medication cleanout program, you are working to prevent abuse, misuse and accidental poisonings while also protecting the local water supply and landfill from potentially dangerous substances,” said Dr. Kaci Bohn, assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences.

Participants can simply drive up to the collection area to drop off medications or ask questions. College of Pharmacy students will retrieve medications from participants in their cars as they pull in. All items will be turned over to local law enforcement to be destroyed in an environmentally safe manner, rather than being flushed or thrown in the trash where they could create potential hazards .

“Harding has partnered with the Searcy Police Department and White County Sheriff’s Office since 2012 and gathered more than 1,100 pounds of medication,” Bohn said. “Due to the overwhelming response from the community, we continue to host an event every spring.”

Prescription medications and samples, non-prescription medications, vitamins and supplements, medications for pets, and nebulizer solutions are acceptable items to drop off. Oxygen tanks, IV fluid bags, and nebulizer or blood glucose machines will not be collected. All medications should be brought in their original containers. All patient identifying information will be immediately removed.

To learn more about the programs and services offered by the College of Pharmacy, visit www.harding.edu/pharmacy or call 501-279-5528. For other Harding events and free and low cost services available to the public, visit www.harding.edu/community .