THOUSANDS OF MEDICATIONS COLLECTED AT AEGIS SCIENCES' MEDS DISPOSAL EVENT
April 20, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most people don’t think about pills and medicine when considering how to improve the environment. Yet, at least 13 common drugs including antidepressants and antibiotics were found in the Tennessee River System, creating antibiotic resistance in humans and damage to aquatic life.
Middle Tennesseans filled more than seven containers totaling 105 gallons with medications at Aegis Sciences Corp.’s MEDS (Manage Extra Drugs Safely) medication collection event, held on April 18.
The event provided residents with a method to dispose their outdated over-the-counter and prescription medications in an environmentally conscious manner. Aegis Sciences provided two drop-off booths at the Nashville Earth Day Festival at Centennial Park and at Memorial Park in Hendersonville.
“Aegis is committed to protecting neighbors and operating an environmentally friendly organization,” said Dr. Black, CEO and founder of Aegis Sciences Corp. “We prevented thousands of pills and capsules from going into landfills and the sewer system, potentially damaging our water source or from falling into the wrong hands. It was a good day for us.”
Local law enforcement attended both collection sites and documented the types of medication collected. These medications will be disposed of according to DEA and EPA standards.
Similar collection events have been held by Metro Nashville Public Works, which this year supported the MEDS event.
"Aegis is providing the public a safe and environmentally responsible opportunity to discard their unused and expired medications at the most appropriate of venues” said Veronica Frazier, executive director of Metro Nashville’s Beautification & Environment Commission Staff. “This medication collection event offers a much needed service to our community by educating attendees on the importance of the proper disposal of medications and protecting our precious water supply."
Keeping outdated or unused medications around the house leads to the risk of prescription medication abuse by children and teenagers, pharmaceuticals in drinking water, which can lead to antibiotic resistance in humans and damage to aquatic life, and identity theft.
“We are a toxicology lab and we work to find pharmaceuticals in humans every day, making this an important issue for us,” concluded Black.
About Aegis Sciences Corp. (www.aegislabs.com) Founded in 1990, Aegis Sciences Corp is a forensic chemical and drug-testing laboratory specializing in Zero-Tolerance Drug Testing, employee drug testing, professional and amateur sports drug testing, pain management drug testing and post-mortem evaluations.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Most people don’t think about pills and medicine when considering how to improve the environment. Yet, at least 13 common drugs including antidepressants and antibiotics were found in the Tennessee River System, creating antibiotic resistance in humans and damage to aquatic life.
