Expired/Unused Drugs Being Collected For Safe Disposal
NEW ORLEANS – Many homes in South Louisiana have medicine cabinets stocked with expired or unused medications. Ochsner Health System will provide a safe way to dispose of those unneeded medications by supporting the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. All controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter medications will be collected and appropriately disposed of. Syringes and injectables will not be accepted.
The National Take Back Initiative was started by the DEA in September of 2010 in response to the increasing rate of prescription medication abuse in America. Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
Last fall’s Take Back event, in which Ochsner also participated, saw the drop off of 188 tons of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the take-back sites that were available in all 50 states.
The following Ochsner locations in the New Orleans area will host Drug Take Back Day on October 29:
• Ochsner Medical Center - Kenner
In front of the Emergency Room Main Entrance
180 W. Esplanade Ave
Kenner, LA 70065
504-464-8043
• Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital
At front entrance to hospital
4608 Hwy. 1
Raceland, LA 70394
985-537-8353
• Ochsner Baptist Medical Center
At the corner of Napoleon Ave. and Magnolia St. (drive through the driveway under the building)
2626 Napoleon Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-897-4220
• Ochsner Medical Center - West Bank Campus
By the front entrance of the hospital
2500 Belle Chasse Hwy.
Gretna, LA 70056
504-392-3131
• Ochsner Medical Center - North Shore
In front of Women's Center Entrance
100 Medical Center Drive
Slidell, LA 70461
985-646-5095
• Ochsner Medical Center
Front of Hospital on Jefferson Highway
1516 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, LA 70121
Anyone wishing to dispose of their medications can simply drop them off at any of the above locations. Everyone is encouraged to remove any identifying information from medication bottles before disposing of them.
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Ochsner Health System is southeast Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, multi-specialty, healthcare delivery system with eight hospitals and over 38 health centers in Louisiana. Ochsner has been named the Consumer Choice for Healthcare in New Orleans for 15 consecutive years and is the only Louisiana hospital recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a “Best Hospital” across seven specialty categories. Ochsner employs more than 12,500 employees, over 850 physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties and conducts over 300 clinical research trials annually. Ochsner Health System is proud to be a tobacco-free environment. For more information, please visit ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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