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Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center (HRRMC) has adopted a program to accept unused or expired prescription medications for safe disposal for community use.

This drop-off kiosk is conveniently located in the lobby of the Emergency Department at the main hospital campus at 1000 Rush Drive in Salida. Any patient of the hospital or clinics, community member, or members of the public can utilize this kiosk safely and anonymously.

The HRRMC medication disposal unit. Courtesy image.

HRRMC notes that it adopted this program as a way to help prevent prescription drug abuse, accidental overdose, and unsafe use of expired medications, and to minimize improper disposal of medications.

There is a list of accepted and not-accepted items at this kiosk. Accepted items include:

  • Unused or expired prescription medication (including Schedule II-V controlled substances)
  • Unused or expired over-the-counter medication
  • Pet medication

Examples include tablets, pills and solid medications, liquids, creams and ointments.

Not-accepted items include: Illegal drugs (including Schedule I controlled substances), needles/sharps, and non-pharmaceutical items (including thermometers and hydrogen peroxide).

For consumer drop-off use, all medications should be contained in outer packaging, such as bottles, sealed bags, or jars. Loose liquids and loose pills cannot be accepted. Anyone using this kiosk should also remove any sensitive, personal health information on bottles or containers before dropping them into the kiosk.

Also note: community members must use this service directly, and cannot ask their medical providers, nurses or other HRRMC staff to drop off unused or expired medication on their behalf.

For more information about the program and how to properly use, visit hrrmc.com/pharmacy.