Wolf promotes medication-disposal bins for unused drugs

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 Gov. Tom Wolf says a safe place to dispose of drugs helps keep them out of the wrong hands. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

Gov. Tom Wolf says a safe place to dispose of drugs helps keep them out of the wrong hands. (Tom MacDonald/WHYY)

A Philadelphia pharmacy chain is highlighting its drug-disposal bin as part of a deeper discussion about opioid addiction. 

More often than not, doctors prescribe more drugs than patients use or patients don’t finish their medication because they are feeling better.  

A safe place to dispose of drugs helps keep them out of the wrong hands, said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday during a visit to Philadelphia.

“We don’t want them to flush them down the toilet. We don’t want them to throw them away in the garbage. We don’t want them to keep them in the medicine cabinet,” he said. “We want them to come and dispose of them safely.”

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Wolf spoke at a Center City Walgreens that’s established a permanent kiosk where people can turn over unused prescriptions. Walgreens, which has two kiosks set up, intends to expand to more locations.

The governor said the state wants to put even more disposal bins in place to help prevent the drugs from being abused.

Misuse of prescription medication can lead to dependence on heroin as a cheaper and more readily available alternative.

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