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Medical Records | Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail Colorado

In the U.S. an estimated 250 million pounds of unusedmedications are improperly disposed of each year. These drugs canbe abused by teens accidentally digested by infants and pets andend up in our landfills and waste water streams.

In addition to the adverse environment impacts leaving unusedmedications around the house can lead to experimentation and abuseby teens and adults. The Partnership for A Drug-Free Americareports that every day there are 2500 teenagers using aprescription medication to get high for the first time. With theexception of marijuana teens are abusing prescription medicationsmore than any illicit drug. Another study conducted by the Officeof National Drug Control found that prescription drugs are the drugof choice among 12- and 13-year olds while a third of all newabusers of prescription drugs were between the ages of 12 and17.

Another problem of unused prescription medication in householdsis they contribute to the more than 20000 unintentional poisoningsannually in the U.S. Accidental ingestion by children elderly andpets occur often and can be prevented with proper precaution.

So how should you dispose of unusedmedication?

A National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place onSaturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the following locations: VailMunicipal Building in Vail Battle Mountain High School in Edwardsand Columbine Market in Gypsum. At this time local law enforcementwill collect all drugs including controlled substances likeVicodin Percocet and Oxycontin as well as all vitamins over thecounter and prescription medicines to safely dispose.

Those unable to make the event can visit Vail Valley MedicalCenter pharmacies in the hospital and at the Edwards Pavilion asthey will accept unused and expired medications (prescription andover-the-counter medicines but not narcotics IV bags or needles)free of charge by bringing the drugs in their original stockcontainers and placing them in the "take back bins."

Additional locations to properly dispose include Eagle County'sHousehold Hazardous Waste Facility in Wolcott which accepts allnon-DEA controlled substances during regular business hours and theEagle County Sheriff's Office "drop-box" which is located insidetheir main office in Eagle (885 East Chambers Avenue) and isavailable to dispose of drugs Monday - Friday during regularbusiness hours.

Drugs collected are either incinerated or taken by a federallylicensed hazardous waste disposal company that picks up regularlyfrom VVMC facilities.

For more information on proper disposal contact Vail Police at970-479-2339 or visit www.pharmacyvail.com.

What to bring
Bring all drugs including controlled substances likeVicodin Percocet and Oxycontin as well as vitamins all over thecounter and prescription medicines to safely dispose. No IV bagsneedles or infectious materials accepted.

Unable to make the event?
Take unused and expired medications (prescription andover-the-counter medicines but not narcotics IV bags or needles)to Vail Valley Medical Center pharmacies in the hospital and at theEdwards Pavilion during business hours.