Out with the old and in with the new.
The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) and the B.C. Pharmacy Association are urging Sea to Sky Corridor residents to return old medications to their local pharmacies. The New Year marks the perfect time to check out what's in your medicine cabinet and note expiry dates on prescriptions, the pharmacy association's president Don Cocar said in a statement.
"It's free for British Columbians to return unused or expired medications to pharmacies for safe and effective disposal," he said.
The province's medication return program covers all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, including antibiotic and antifungal creams and natural health products, such as vitamins. The best way to return medications is to combine the pills into a single bag or black out personal information on the original containers.
Safe disposal of the material protects watersheds and preserves the health of communities, said Brooke Carere, the SLRD's environmental technician.
"We're happy to join forces with the [B.C. Pharmacy Association] to create awareness of this important program," she said.
