REPRESENTATIVES of the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Metro Vancouver are urging community members to make a new year's resolution to bring their unused medications back to their local pharmacy.
Old and expired medications are potentially harmful if they're swallowed by children or pets and need to be carefully disposed so they don't contaminate the environment, according to a joint release from the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Metro Vancouver.
British Columbians can return expired or unused medications to pharmacies across the province at no cost. Statistics from the Post Consumer Pharmaceutical Stewardship Association suggest consumers are returning increasing quantities of unused medications to pharmacies in the Metro Vancouver region. In 2008, before the B.C. Pharmacy Association and Metro Vancouver launched the public awareness campaign, fewer than 18,000 kilograms of medications were returned. In 2010, consumers returned 29,791 kilograms of medications.
More than 375 pharmacies are involved in this year's medication returns campaign. For a list of North Shore drop-off locations or more information about returning old medications, visit www.medicationsreturn.ca.
