The Government of Saskatchewan and the Pharmacy Association of Saskatchewan are launching a public awareness campaign that focuses on diminishing the abuse and misuse of pharmaceutical drugs in the province.

The campaign offers residents a safer and free way to return all unused or expired medication to a local pharmacy.

“The goal of this initiative is to remove medication as a potential means of intentional or accidental drug poisoning. We know that medication overdose is one of the methods used by people who attempt suicide,” says Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Everett Hindley.

“That’s why safely disposing of unused or expired medication, both prescription and also over the counter, is important and it can save lives across the province.”

The Government of Saskatchewan is providing $350,000 toward the program. The money will go towards promoting the campaign in the media as well as disposal systems.

“We are pleased to support the Pharmacy Association’s efforts to keep Saskatchewan residents safer,” says Hindley.

“Developing a provincial safe medication disposal program is an important part of our suicide prevention plan, as removing unused prescription drugs limits access to a means of suicide.”

The initiative is a part of the provincial government’s Pillars for life: The Saskatchewan Suicide Prevention Plan which is aiming to address and prevent suicide. The government and its partners are building on the Pillars For Life plan to improve the delivery of suicide prevention programs in the province.

Pharmacists are now accepting the return of unused medication with no additional monetary fee to the resident.

Pharmacies are asking residents who are returning prescriptions to scratch out any patient information on the container, place all returning medication in a clear plastic bag, and then return it to a local pharmacy.

Pharmacists will take the returned medication and then place it into special medication disposal boxes which are safely destroyed on a regular basis.