ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans Food Markets is teaming up with local law enforcement agencies across seven states to host prescription medication drop-off events at 45 stores on Saturday, Oct. 24, providing communities with a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused and expired medications.
The free, anonymous service is designed to help reduce the risks associated with keeping unwanted prescription drugs in the home, including misuse, abuse and accidental poisoning. No questions will be asked, and participants can drop off eligible medications during designated collection hours.
Prescription medications are an essential part of healthcare for millions of Americans, but unused drugs that remain in medicine cabinets can pose significant public health and safety concerns. According to studies cited by Wegmans, more than half of people who misuse prescription medications obtain them from friends or relatives or take the drugs without permission.
As part of the collection effort, only pills and patches will be accepted. Liquids, needles and other sharps will not be collected.
The medication take-back events will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 24, unless otherwise noted.
Participating stores include locations throughout New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In New York, collection sites include stores in the Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse markets. Participating Rochester-area stores are Brockport, Calkins Road, Eastway, Holt Road, Irondequoit, Lyell Avenue, Mt. Read, Penfield and Perinton. Buffalo-area events at Dick Road and McKinley stores will run from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Additional participating locations include Bel Air, Md.; Burlington, Chestnut Hill, Northborough and Westwood, Mass.; Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Wake Forest and West Cary, N.C.; Manalapan, Mt. Laurel, Ocean and Princeton, N.J.; Allentown, Bethlehem, Collegeville, Lancaster, Montgomeryville, Nazareth, Warrington and Williamsport, Pa.; and Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Midlothian and Short Pump, Va.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote safe medication disposal and help prevent prescription drug misuse in the communities Wegmans serves.
