UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Student Pharmacists Team Up with UCI Police Department for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Event provides opportunity for community members to properly dispose of unused medications
Student pharmacists from the UC Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences hosted a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event on April 19 that allowed community members to properly dispose of unused medications and educated participants on the dangers of medication misuse. The event was an initiative of the university’s American Pharmacists Association (APhA)/California Pharmacists Association (CPhA)-Academy of Student Pharmacists (ASP) chapter, in collaboration with the UCI Police Department.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) first introduced National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in 2010. Held bi-annually in April and October, the day provides an opportunity for participants to safely get rid of unwanted medications.
“It is very important for everyone to properly store medications, never share prescription drugs, and regularly clear out medicine cabinets. Safe disposal could help to prevent medications from being accidentally consumed by children, pets, or others for whom they were not prescribed. It also helps prevent environmental pollution through proper disposal techniques,” said Sahar Soltani, student pharmacist and Patient Care Vice President of APhA/CPhA-ASP at UCI.
The student pharmacists set up the drop-off site and collected expired medications, as well as educated the community about safe medication disposal.
“Pharmacists play a key role as frontline healthcare providers. They counsel patients on the risks of medication misuse, screen for drug interactions, and recommend safer alternatives. Our school prepares us to address medication misuse through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experiences,” said Soltani. She shared that student pharmacists in the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences practice patient counseling as part of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and have real-world interactions with patients during Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPEs) rotations, community health fairs, and outreach events.
“We had a great turnout and were able to collect a large amount of unused medication,” she said. “It felt good knowing we were making a difference not just by removing potentially dangerous meds from circulation, but also by having real conversations with people about safe medication use.”
Although National Prescription Drug Take Back Day happens twice per year, year-round drop-off locations offer a place to properly dispose of medications at any time. To find a year-round drop-off location near you, visit dea.gov/everyday-takeback-day.