During June, National Safety Month, community partners are coming together to help prevent accidental poisoning and medication misuse. On Tuesday, June 21, Community Advocates Public Policy Institute and Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention coalition (MCSAP) launched the Keep Your Meds Safe initiative at Hayat Pharmacy, 807. W. Layton Ave., Milwaukee.
The Keep Your Meds Safe initiative will make medication lock boxes and drug deactivation pouches available for free to the public at six pharmacy locations in Milwaukee County. The initiative will encourage individuals and families to safeguard medications by following three simple steps:
- Lock Them Up: Always safely store your medications
- Destroy Them: Use a safe disposal pouch for unwanted or expired medications
- Drop Them Off: Return unwanted meds to a designated safe disposal site
Nationally, about 50,000 children go to the emergency room each year because they got into medicines when an adult was not looking, and young people between the ages of 18 and 25 are the most likely to misuse medication not prescribed to them.
“Accidental poisonings and medication misuse can easily happen when a child, teen, or adult takes a prescription or over-the-counter pill, syrup, or gummy that isn’t meant for them,” said Africa Lucas, Community Advocates Public Policy Institute Prevention Manager. “A good way to keep your family safe is to lock up your medications, or deactivate them or take them to a secure disposal site when you no longer need them.”
Pharmacy partners aim to distribute 1,500 medication lock boxes and 3,200 drug deactivation pouches at no cost to patients throughout the summer.
“Almost every household has medication in the medicine cabinet, on the kitchen counter or a bedside table, or in a purse or jacket, where it’s easy for children and curious teens and adults to find and take,” said Hayat Pharmacy Chief Clinical Officer Dimmy Sokhal. “Our pharmacists and care team want to help make our patients’ households safe by providing medication lock boxes and disposal pouches, and being a safe place to return medication. It’s easy to do and will keep your family, friends, and visitors safe.”
You can find Keep Your Meds Safe supplies at these locations throughout the summer while they last:
- 1919 W. North Ave.
- 5928 W. Vliet St.
- 8434 W. Silver Spring Dr.
- 807 W. Layton Ave.
Milwaukee Pharmacy (Dr. Carter's) location
- 2400 W. Burleigh St.
- 3512 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood
