Agnesian HealthCare Expands Community Drug Drop Locations

Two Agnesian HealthCare hospitals – St. Agnes Hospital and Waupun Memorial Hospital – are opening secured drug drop locations at their facilities in early July to ensure the proper disposal of expired or no longer needed medications.

This effort gives people in the community a place to dispose of medications that is both environmentally responsible and safe from potential abuse. A recent study has shown that nearly six in 10 Americans have leftover narcotics at home and 20 percent have shared those with another person.

The new drug drop locations complement six existing sites supported by the Drug Free Communities of Fond du Lac County in Campbellsport, Fond du Lac, North Fond du Lac, Oakfield, Ripon and Waupun.

Agnesian HealthCare is among one of the first healthcare systems in Wisconsin that offer drug drop boxes within a hospital location.

“Agnesian HealthCare recognizes that prescription drug abuse is a growing concern and one that affects all communities,” according to Katie Reinke, Agnesian HealthCare director of Pharmacy. “We are proud to provide two more drug drop locations at our hospitals in Fond du Lac and Waupun. We know this service allows for safe disposal of unwanted medications. We are excited to offer a service that is great for both the community and the environment.”

The new drug drop locations will be located inside the St. Agnes Hospital lobby (near the A Elevators) and off Waupun Memorial Hospital lobby (in the main hallway near the public elevators).

“We’re happy to be offering two more drug collection and disposal receptacles in the communities we serve so our patients and their families, as well as the general community, can safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired medicines and controlled substances.”

And, according to Reinke, it’s a simple process.

“Simply bring in your unused medications to one of these two locations and drop them into our drug drop box – it’s bright blue, so you can’t miss it. The box provides a safe, cost-effective and convenient way to dispose of potentially dangerous drugs. It keeps them out of the hands of young people, helps to prevent prescription drug abuse and keeps our water supply safe.”

“We are appreciative of Agnesian HealthCare’s continued efforts to find safe ways to dispose prescription medications that are good for the environment, as well as keeping unwanted medications out of reach,” according to Ellen Sorensen, Drug Free Communities grant coordinator. “Our hope is to make it as easy as possible for individuals to drop off their prescription medications and avoid flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash. Studies show that these methods pose environmental risks, especially to our drinking water.”

Both drug drop locations are open during hospital main entrance hours. St. Agnes Hospital main entrance doors are open seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. At Waupun Memorial, weekday hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and weekend hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

In addition, Agnesian HealthCare is providing hospice patients and their families with specific envelopes that they can discard unwanted medications and return for safe and secure disposal.

“We know that families have many things they need to do following the passing of a loved one,” says Andy Land, director of Agnesian HealthCare Palliative Care & Hospice. “We want to ease one burden they may have, and these specialized envelopes will help them safely dispose of medications no longer needed. We, like our patients and families, want to be good stewards of our environment.”

For more information on drug disposal in Fond du Lac and Dodge County, visit agnesianpharmacy.com.