Guest Voice: Donuts for drugs — safe disposal on campus

Have expired or unneeded prescription drugs? Need a safe place to dispose of them? Vandal Health Education has you covered! In an effort to promote safe disposal and reduce the amount of prescription medications that are left unused or expired in the home environment, Vandal Health Education in collaboration with Moscow Police Department is hosting an Rx Drug Take Back event on Oct. 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ISUB Plaza.

Peer Health Director Mikayla | Courtesy

Any student, faculty or staff person can drop off any prescription medication to the safe disposal box provided and/or answer Rx trivia questions and get a free donut!

Misuse of prescription drug medications represents a major public health concern. Prescription drug misuse affects college-aged people (18-25) more than any other age group. According to the 2017 National College Health Assessment (NCHA), 9% of University of Idaho students reported taking a prescription stimulant, like Ritalin or Adderall, that was not prescribed to them in the last 12 months. The NCHA also reports that 6% of students took prescription pain killers (opioids) that were not prescribed to them in the past year.

Nonmedical use of stimulant medications, such as Adderall and Ritalin, is also becoming increasingly profound among college students. According to the Center on Addiction, 5-35% of the college population misuses amphetamines, such as Adderall. Of those that use amphetamines without a prescription, the majority report receiving the medication from a friend or peer diagnosed with ADHD.

When used without a doctor’s guidance, misusing any prescription drug can pose serious health risks, such as increased risk of addiction, paranoia and increased heart rate and risk of stroke. Mixing someone else’s prescription with alcohol can increase likeliness of death from alcohol poisoning by three times.

While attempts are underway at a national level to combat misuse and abuse of prescription medications, we still need your help! Please bring in your expired or unneeded prescriptions, and we will safely dispose of them for you. These can include drugs that have a high rate of abuse, but can also include any drug which has expired, such as antibiotics.

There are other community locations for disposal of prescription medications, including the Moscow Police Department or local pharmacies such as Walgreens. If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug misuse, the Counseling and Testing Center is a free and confidential resource for students with staff trained in substance use disorders. Schedule an appointment by calling (208) 885-6716 or stop by the 3rd floor of Mary E. Forney Hall.

Learn more about prescription drug misuse and get a free donut at ‘Donuts for Drugs’ on Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ISUB Plaza. Moscow Police and Vandal Health Education will be on hand to answer questions. You might even be able to get a selfie with a cop!

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