(Thanks, P. :)

Reader P. writes:

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Re: Two Reader responses

Don't know how widespread this type of program is around the country, but our local county sheriff's office has two mailbox-style dropoff boxes for unwanted and/or expired medications. One for legal prescriptions, and one for street drugs. I honestly have to wonder how many people actually use the latter, except maybe for people who find it in their kids' or roommates things or whatnot, but I was glad to use the other for similar unwanted antibiotics and painkillers for my dog etc.

(and yes, I'm sure some would then be worried about being tracked if your name is on the rx bottle etc, but in my case, not exactly paranoid that they know that Fido had a shoulder injury ;-) )

Lastly, I did once have a huge amount of leftover breathing medication that I no longer needed. It was all unopened, but about to expire, so not useful for emergency prep for my use beyond a few of the units. I went through our local hospital to see if it could be donated somewhere, and they were able to connect with a clinic that could use it (the hospital couldn't, for legal reasons, but free clinics etc. have different rules, so it worked out).

Mind, this was for meds unopened, in original, sealed packaging, and we happened to know the hospital person well, so I kind of take that example as largely a one-off, but just encouraging creative thinking, since so many smaller facilities/programs that provide for high risk populations might very well welcome/be able to accept certain donations like that. Never hurts to ask, eh?

;-)

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