Hometown Pharmacy Launches New Drug Take-Back Program for Consumer Drug Disposal

In response to news about the presence of pharmaceuticals contaminating the water supply, Hometown Pharmacy is now offering a new drug take back program to help its patients safely dispose of medicines that may be dangerous to others and to the environment.
 Pittsburgh has been named the 2010 North American host for World Environment Day.  With such a large title crowned upon Pittsburgh, the Hometown Pharmacy recognizes the obligation to protect the environment and waterways within the community.  Hometown Pharmacy is taking the first step to stop the pharmaceutical pollution.
 “As members of the community, pharmacists are in a prime position to ensure the safe and proper handling of medications, from dispensing to disposal,” said Shawn Nairn, R.Ph., Vice President and Director of Operations of Hometown Pharmacies.  “Unused or expired medications pose risks to our families, communities, and the environment. We welcome everyone in the community to come and talk to our pharmacists about their prescriptions and how to store, use and dispose of them properly.”
 Patients of any pharmacy are invited to safely dispose of unused and expired medications at Hometown Pharmacy, free of charge by bringing in the drugs in their original stock containers. Hometown Pharmacy will be sure to have the medications and over-the-counter products disposed of in an environmentally friendly way.  The DEA regulates controlled substances; therefore the pharmacy is not able to take back controlled substances at this time. 
 Though it may be argued that the presence of drugs in drinking water is negligible, more and more consumers are disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the drain, adding pharmaceutical pollution to our waters. In addition, medicines thrown in the trash can end up in landfills if not first picked up by children, pets, sanitation employees, or anyone who rummages through trash.
 Hometown Pharmacy is a small chain of independent pharmacies in and around Pittsburgh.  The locations include Bill’s Hometown Pharmacy in Plum; Hometown Pharmacy inside Shop N Save in GreenTree, Homestead, Holiday Park and Belle Vernon; and Punxsy Hometown Pharmacy in Punxsutawney. 

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