FRANKFORT, Ky. (Oct. 18, 2016) – Health and Family Services Cabinet Secretary Vickie Yates Brown Glisson, Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram, Kentucky State Police Commissioner Richard Sanders, Kentucky Department for Public Health Commissioner Dr. Hiram Polk and Kipp Snider, Vice President of State Advocacy for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) gathered at the Kentucky State Capitol today for a kick-off event for the My Old Meds Kentucky public education initiative.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said Sec. Glisson. “Unused medicines stored in home medicine cabinets pose a serious risk to both human health and the environment. I am pleased this initiative raises awareness about the importance of safe medicine, use, storage and disposal.”
The My Old Meds initiative aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
“All too often, a young person’s introduction to opioids happens as a result of leftover medication in the home,” said Ingram. “That’s why proper disposal of medication is so important.”
The kickoff event was held just prior to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) annual Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 22. This effort will complement the aggressive efforts already underway and supported by the Commonwealth of Kentucky to encourage safe drug disposal.
The kick-off event at the Kentucky State Capitol featured an overview of the My Old Meds Program, a law enforcement perspective of the initiative, and the role of providers and health care community in raising awareness for the safe disposal of medicines.
Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds (approximately 3,200 tons) of pills.
To learn more about the importance of safe medicine disposal in Kentucky, go to the My Old Meds Kentucky website.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or the Oct.22 Take Back Day event, go the DEA Diversion website.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is home to most of the state’s human services and healthcare programs, including the Department for Medicaid Services, the Department for Community Based Services the Department for Public Health and the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. CHFS is one of the largest agencies in state government, with nearly 8,000 full- and part-time employees located across the Commonwealth focused on improving the lives and health of Kentuckians.