PHARMACIES in the NSW Federal electorate of MacKellar are taking part in the Brown Bag Medicine Promotion this month to encourage patients to return unwanted medications (RUM) to be destroyed in an environmentally safe way.
The campaign, launched by the constituency's member, Jason Falinski, and former Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) National President, Warwick Plunkett, aims to raise awareness of the national RUM program, which captures 800 tonnes of unwanted medicines each year.
"This still only accounts for about 20% of disposed medicines with the remainder ending up in landfill and our waterways," Plunkett said.
"Much still remains to be done in educating the public on the safe and convenient way to dispose of medicines through their community pharmacy.
"I encourage everyone in the electorate to review their medicine cupboard and return back to the pharmacy all unwanted medicines for safe disposal along with any current medicines needing more information and advice from the pharmacist.
"Pharmacists are medicines experts and are always available to provide advice on their actions, side effects and optimal use."
The US-based Brown Bag initiative started 40 years ago to raise consumer awareness of the need to dispose of out-of-date and unwanted medicines from their homes to prevent accidental misadventure.
As part of the campaign pharmacies in Mackellar will provide patients with brown bags to return expired and medications they no longer require to the stores.
The promotion is supported by the RUM Program and the PSA, and has been supported by an environmental grant from the Federal Government.
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