As Earth Day approaches, NCPA promotes Dispose My Meds program
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In anticipation of Earth Day 2011 on April 22, the National Community Pharmacists Association is encouraging community pharmacists to demonstrate their role as a respected and knowledgeable resource on all aspects of medications, from dispensing to disposal, the association announced Thursday.
To assist pharmacists in conveying that message, NCPA is offering to its members, discounts, product displays, as well as communications and marketing materials and event ideas as part of its successful prescription disposal program for consumers at the website DisposeMyMeds.org.
“On Earth Day and every day, community pharmacies that voluntarily offer drug disposal services for their patients have an opportunity to build their businesses while building better relationships with patients as they discuss their medication needs,” stated Robert Greenwood, NCPA president. “Pharmacists place a premium on monitoring what prescription drugs are taken, how they interact with other drugs, how effective they are and what side effects they might cause as way to ensure patients are getting the maximum results,” Greenwood said. “The Dispose My Meds program is another avenue to allow pharmacists to apply their clinical patient care knowledge and to promote proper adherence to the patient’s prescription medication regimen.”
The NCPA Dispose My Meds program was launched in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Earth Week in April 2010 via a partnership with NCPA and Sharps Compliance in order to address two pressing issues in drug diversion and environmental contamination. As part of the program, NCPA members receive nearly 20% in discounts with shipping included on the products from the Sharps TakeAway Environmental Return System, along with free customizable marketing materials and a listing on the companion consumer website, DisposeMyMeds.org.
To date, more than 1,200 pharmacies in 48 states are participating in the program and have collected some 25,000 pounds of unused or expired noncontrolled medications, NCPA stated.