On Saturday, CU’s Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Anschutz Police Department teamed up for the DEA’s Drug Take Back Day, collecting more than 155 pounds of old or unused medications from the community. Statewide, more than 18,000 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired drugs were collected.
Hands-on experience
Thirteen student pharmacists – under the guidance of two preceptors, Paul Limberis (BS '79) and Professor Peter Rice, PharmD – helped sort medications dropped off at Building 500, located on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
“DEA Drug Take Back Day gives student pharmacists an opportunity to promote drug safety and contribute to patient safety,” said Zhimin Chen, a second-year CU Pharmacy student.
P3 student Krista Patel agreed.
“Medication safety is our goal, and DEA Drug Take Back Day provides a perfect venue for student pharmacists to keep our community safe.”
Making households safer
The program, held twice each year – once in the fall and once in the spring – aims to educate the community about medication safety in addition to getting outdated and unused medications out of the household in a safe manner.
“This is one of the most valuable services offered to our patients and families,” said Limberis, pharmacy manager for the University of Colorado Hemophilia Center. “Safely getting unneeded medications out of cabinets and away from children does a world of good.”
