CVS Caremark offers proper medication disposal

WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 28 (UPI) -- CVS Caremark says its U.S. locations provide customers with a return program to help families properly dispose of old and expired medication.

Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy affairs at CVS Caremark, said a recent study found one-quarter of U.S. teens improperly used prescription drugs, a 33 percent increase over the past five years.

"The statistics on teen misuse and abuse are startling and illustrate why we joined the Partnership at Drugfree.org last year," Tankut said in a statement. "In addition to assisting with the partnership's efforts to educate parents, caregivers and communities about the dangers of medication abuse by young people, CVS Caremark can help patients properly manage and dispose of their medications to reduce incidences of teen misuse and abuse."

All CVS Caremark pharmacies the United States participate in the Sharps Compliance Takeaway Environmental Return program, which provides customers with the ability to safely dispose of their unused, expired or unwanted drugs using affordable medication disposal envelopes, Tankut said.

The postage-paid envelopes allow customers to mail their unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications through the U.S. Postal Service to a licensed, secure facility for safe destruction.