Another first for Texas Tech

By Jason L. Bishop Last updated Apr 28, 2022

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) — It’s time for the drug cleanup again, sponsored by Texas Tech.

By now you probably know what that means.

It’s a chance to clean out your medicine cabinet to keep drugs from ending up on the streets and out of our water supply.

With an easy drive-thru, you can drop off medications and syringes and let the professionals dispose of them properly.

What you may NOT know is the remarkable impact this single event at Texas Tech had, far beyond its parking lot.

Dr. Charles Seifert, PharmD, is Regional Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

He says: “This is the 77th drug cleanup, counting Amarillo, Abilene and Lubbock, that we have participated in, collecting over 35 tons of drugs and sharps.

Even the Drug Enforcement Agency took notice of this little campaign and made it a big national issue.

“April 30 is actually DEA Medication Take-Back Day nationwide,” Seifert adds. “Of course, their efforts were to avoid drug diversion, but we started doing that before they started this nationwide.”

In addition to keeping drugs off the streets, drug cleanup is an effort to prevent accidents.

Dr Seifert says, “To help prevent young children from overdosing on leftover medications that may be in an unlocked cupboard or the like. An adult dose, one or two doses, can kill a small child.

Similarly, Dr. Seifert says cleansing makes it less likely that an older person will get confused in a mix of potentially dangerous medications.

Ultimately, you have another chance on Saturday, April 30 to let professionals dispose of partially used, unwanted, or expired medications and syringes using a simple drive-in event outside Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

According to Dr. Seifert, it’s as easy as driving up a Sonic, maybe easier.

The drug cleanup takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Health Sciences Center parking lot on 4th Street near Indiana.

Look for the signs to direct you.

*Another important note: you can cross your name off a prescription, but please leave any medication in its original container. Officials need to know what it is to sort it out before it can be destroyed.