If your pills are expired, they need to be retired at Naval Hospital Bremerton Pharmacy

Photo By Douglas Stutz | In conjunction with the recently held National Drug Take Back Day on April 24, 2021, Naval Hospital Bremerton wants to remind all eligible beneficiaries that there is a medication takeback program in place with a ‘MedSafe’ medication disposal container located in the outpatient pharmacy lobby readily accessible and available for use year-round, which can accept consumer unused or expired prescribed (Rx) controlled and non-controlled medications, such as over-the-counter dispensed medications. Accepted for disposal are pills, tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, lotions, powders, and liquid medicines no more than four ounces (Official Navy photo).  

BREMERTON, WA, UNITED STATES

04.26.2021

Story by Douglas Stutz    

Naval Hospital Bremerton/Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton

As the saying goes, ‘If your pills are expired, they need to be retired.’

Naval Hospital Bremerton’s (NHB) Pharmacy can assist with the safe handling of discarded medication.

With April 24 designated as National Drug Take Back Day by the Drug Enforcement Agency, NHB wants to remind all eligible beneficiaries that there is a medication takeback program in place.

There’s a ‘MedSafe’ medication disposal container located in the outpatient pharmacy lobby. It’s readily accessible and available for use year-round.

Acceptable medications for disposal include pills, tables, capsules, ointments, creams, lotions, and powders. Liquid medicines no more than four ounces may also be disposed, but must be in their original containers, wrapped in a paper towel and sealed in a plastic bag before being placed in MedSafe.

The MedSafe can accept Schedule II-V substances such as Percocet, eliminating the need for someone to go to a Kitsap County Sheriff's office. Staff providers are also able to instruct patients to dispose of medication in the container if they feel they should no longer be on it. It is however against the hospital policy to take medications from a patient and dispose of it for them.

Sharps, defined as needles, syringes, scalpels, lancets, and intravenous tubing with needles attached, whether used or not, are not acceptable. Other items like auto-injectors epinephrine, fluids over 4 ounces, or aerosols including albuterol inhalers are also not to be disposed of in the MedSafe.

Additionally, MedSafe is not for illicit drugs, specifically Schedule 1 controlled substances drugs or another substance with a high potential for abuse, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

The program is also not for chemotherapy waste or other medical waste in receptacles. Other items not taken include batteries, aerosol spray cans, trash or hazardous materials, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, mercury thermometers, or chemicals.

The medication takeback program provides a safe and convenient method to dispose of any expired, unneeded, and unused medications – one drop-off at a time.

• Date Taken: 04.26.2021
• Date Posted: 04.26.2021 10:23
• Story ID: 394739
• Location: BREMERTON, WA, US