Grey-Bruce Public Health is calling its latest "Attacking Medication Misuse" campaign a record-setting success.
All 150 vouchers for free Owen Sound Attack tickets were claimed within 36 hours, as residents returned more than 230 bottles and packages of unused or expired medication to Rexall Pharma Plus on 2nd Avenue East in Owen Sound. The drop-offs included everything from opioids and sedatives to antibiotics and inhalers.
Harm Reduction program manager Monica Blair says the campaign set new highs since it was relaunched in 2023, both for the number of tickets claimed and the volume of medications collected. She says the bigger victory is raising awareness that returning old medications to a pharmacy is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to dispose of them.
The "Attacking Medication Misuse" campaign is a partnership between Grey Bruce Public Health, the Owen Sound Attack, and Rexall Pharma Plus. Last year’s campaign collected about 170 packages of medication, up from 120 in 2023.
Public Health is reminding residents that all pharmacies will accept old or unused medications year-round and ensure they’re disposed of properly.
