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New province-wide campaign to return unused medication

Touted as a way to reduce the effects of medication misuse.

REGINA — A new province-wide awareness campaign has been launched to encourage Saskatchewan residents to return unused or expired medication to local pharmacies.

This public awareness campaign was launched Wednesday by the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan, and is being touted as helping to address the effects of medication misuse. The provincial government is contributing $350,000 to the effort.

The plan is for the public awareness campaign to use billboards, radio and newspaper ads and posters to get the message out, as well as a social media campaign. The goal is to increase the amount of unused medications returned to Saskatchewan pharmacies and decrease the opportunities for medication misuse and harm to children and those with addictions issues.

"The goal of this initiative is to remove medication as a potential means of intentional or accidental drug poisoning,” Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health Minister Everett Hindley said. “We know that medication overdose is one of the methods used by people to attempt suicide. That’s why safely disposing of unused or expired medication both prescription and also over-the-counter is important and it can also save lives across the province.”

"Most prescription medications can be dangerous if not taken as directed, or if taken by someone other than that who it is intended," Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan CEO Michael Fougere said at the announcement Wednesday. "Medications that are safe for adults may in fact be fatal for children, pets or even seniors."

The announcement was made at the Save-on Foods Pharmacy on south Albert Street, where they also demonstrated how the program would work.

People can go to their local pharmacist who will accept the return of any unused medication. Those returning medications are asked to scratch out any patient identification on the medication bottles, to place it into a clear plastic bag, and return it the pharmacy.  The pharmacist will then place the returned medication into special medication disposal boxes to be safely destroyed.

This method is considered preferable to throwing them into the garbage or down the toilet. Those pose an environmental problem, said Fougere. 

Medication return programs are already in place across the country and are seen as a way to safely remove unused or expired medicines. Safe return policies have also been in place as a good practice at pharmacies in the province, but Fougere said they want to “up the ante” and get more medication off the streets.

"With 424 pharmacies located in 125 communities across the province, from as far north as Buffalo Narrows and as far south as Carnduff, pharmacists and pharmacies are among the most accessible health care providers in Saskatchewan," Fougere said. “Since pharmacies play a leading role in counselling patients on the use of medications, and they are located in communities across the province and are open during a broad range of hours, it just makes sense that pharmacies accept medications from residents for safe and secure disposal.”