Bassett Supports Drug Take-Back Week: Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

Bassett Healthcare Network is encouraging people to safely dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription medication during Drug Take-Back Week. Now through April 24 (Saturday, April 24 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day), Bassett invites local residents to dispose of their medications in collection kiosks. The disposal kiosks are a free, safe, and secure way to get rid of unwanted prescription medication during Drug Take-Back Week and throughout the year.

Removing leftover prescription drugs from the home is important in preventing medication misuse and helps to reduce the number of individuals who may become addicted to over-the-counter or controlled medication. In addition, safe and proper disposal also keeps medications out of waterways and landfills, such as when medications are flushed away or disposed of in the garbage.

“These disposal kiosks are a safe way of getting rid of unneeded medications,” explains Kelly Rudd, PharmD, Bassett Healthcare Network’s director of Pharmacy Operations. “Removing leftover prescription drugs from homes is important in preventing medication misuse. We encourage patients and their families to use this time to rid their homes of all unused medications so they are not accessible to others.”

Medication disposal bins are available year-round at Bassett’s outpatient pharmacies at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, FoxCare Center in Oneonta, and O’Connor Hospital in Delhi. Since the program’s inception in 2018, Bassett pharmacies have collected more than 4,600 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription medication.

“Over the past year, we have seen less medication returns at pharmacy locations during the pandemic,” says Dr. Richard Brown, attending psychiatrist at Bassett Medical Center. “This, compounded with increased depression, anxiety, and isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, brings more urgency to this effort. Please spring clean your medicine cabinet. Bassett Healthcare Network is here to help.”

Bassett Healthcare Network’s outpatient pharmacy drug take-back locations include:

• Bassett Medical Center, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY, 13326 – (607) 547-6681
  • Kiosk: Clinic lobby near outpatient pharmacy | Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• O’Connor Hospital, 460 Andes Road, Delhi, NY, 13753 – (607) 746-0337
  • Kiosk: Outpatient pharmacy waiting area | Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• FoxCare Pharmacy, 1 FoxCare Drive, Suite 215, Oneonta, NY 13820 – (607) 431-5282
  • Kiosk: Outpatient pharmacy check-out area | Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Bassett Healthcare Network has begun planning to expand its drug take-back kiosk locations to other communities across the region. Other safe disposal locations are available at retail pharmacies and police departments. Visit the New York State Department of Health’s website to find more drop-off locations near you.