Following a successful campaign in 2023, Grey Bruce Public Health will again be teaming up with the Owen Sound Attack and Rexall Pharma Plus in downtown Owen Sound on a promotion aimed at raising awareness about how to safely dispose of expired and unused medication.

Starting Nov. 25, 2024, people who drop off old or no-longer-needed prescription and/or over-the-counter medication at Rexall Pharma Plus, 963 2nd Ave. E., can receive a voucher for a free ticket to any regular season Owen Sound Attack home game.

The campaign is slated to run until Nov. 29, 2024, or until all free-ticket vouchers are claimed, whichever is sooner.

“The purpose of the ‘Attacking Medication Misuse’ campaign is to encourage and remind residents to always return old and unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicine to their local pharmacy for safe disposal,” says Monica Blair, Manager of Grey Bruce Public Health’s Harm Reduction Program.

“Our message is this: don’t flush it, don’t trash it, don’t share it, as doing so can impact human health and, in some cases, harm the environment as well. All pharmacies accept old or unused medications year-round and ensure they are disposed of properly, safely, and will not get into the wrong hands.”

Leaving old medications in medicine cabinets or cupboards can have unintended and potentially serious consequences. Trends suggest rising rates of recreational misuse of prescription drugs by youth, who often obtain these drugs from family medicine cabinets and friends.

In addition, people may inadvertently take expired prescription medications if these drugs are not promptly removed from medicine cabinets. This can cause potentially dangerous interactions with other medications.

Improperly discarded pharmaceuticals can also end up in landfills and waterways.

During last year’s Attacking Medication Misuse campaign, all vouchers for free Owen Sound Attack hockey games were claimed within just three days. In exchange, more than 120 bottles of unused medications were collected, including opioids, benzodiazepines, and other substances that can be potentially misused.

People who participate in the campaign will be asked to fill out a form at Rexall Pharma Plus to indicate what medication they are returning. This data will be collected by Public Health for reporting purposes.