Back to SearchNORTH BAY, ON - It’s your yearly reminder to clean out your old and outdated medications. Each year the Stay On Your Feet (SOYF) coalition and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) offer medication cleanout bags to older adults to encourage them to return unused medication to pharmacies.
Approximately 40 per cent of older adults take five to nine medications. Drug interactions around prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs can cause drowsiness and dizziness, which can lead to a fall. SOYF recommends that you keep your medications in a secured locked cupboard or box, out of the reach of all children and visitors.
The goals of the medication cleanout are:
- To promote the safe storage and disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications and other drugs;
- To reduce the amount of medications that are available in people’s homes;
- To reduce the environmental impact associated with the inappropriate disposal of medications in the garbage and sewer systems; and
- To increase awareness that unused or expired prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal supplements can be returned to any pharmacy for safe disposal any day of the year.
- To encourage older adults to consult with their pharmacist or health care provider every 6-12 months to review medications.
Medication cleanout bags can be picked up at participating local pharmacies or by calling the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808 extension 5210.
For more information on ways to manage your medications check out www.stayonyourfeet.ca.
SOYF is a regional initiative supported by the five Northeastern Health Units. It is implemented locally by a coalition of partners who work with older adults, with a goal of improving the quality of life of older adults living in Nipissing Parry Sound by reducing their risk, rate and severity of falls.
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Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca
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