Drug Disposal, Free Health Screenings Available at UH Sept. 29

College of Pharmacy Students, Law Enforcement Personnel Offer Helping Hand at Public Event

Members of the community are encouraged to visit the University of Houston (UH) Saturday, Sept. 29, to safely dispose of their unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs, as well as take advantage of free health screenings by UH College of Pharmacy students.

Pharmacy Student Han PhamIn coordination with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and UH Police Department, UH is an official collection site for the DEA-led National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During that time, UH pharmacy students will offer health screenings to include checking glucose and cholesterol levels, measuring blood pressure and performing diabetic foot exams.

The “Community Health Awareness Day” portion of this public event also will include “brown bag” medication reviews by UH pharmacy students. This common practice allows patients to bring their medications and supplements for review by a health care professional for an opportunity to have their questions answered, identify possible drug interactions and assist them with taking medications correctly.

The pharmacy students also will offer presentations on such topics as diabetes, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer, immunizations, heartburn and smoking cessation. Other activities include voter registration, family-oriented games, giveaways and raffle prizes.

Sponsored by CVS/pharmacy, the event is being organized by the UH chapter of the American Pharmacists Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) with participation by every UH pharmacy student organization.

“Many people are not aware of how much pharmacists can do today,” said Trang Tran, APhA-ASP’s vice president of patient care. “Many of the services we provide can help improve patients’ health outcomes through medication therapy management, immunizations and various other direct patient-care services that go beyond the role of filling prescriptions. We are considered one of the most widely accessible health professionals, and we encourage everyone to take the time to ‘know your medications and know your pharmacist.’”

WHO: UH College of Pharmacy students & law enforcement personnel
WHAT: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day & Community Health Awareness Day
WHEN:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29
WHERE: University of Houston, off Cullen Boulevard
Drug drop-off between Moores School of Music and Houston Science Center
Map: http://www.uh.edu/maps/buildings/?short_name=HSC
Other activities in park adjacent to Moores School of Music, with parking in Lot 16 B
Map: http://www.uh.edu/maps/buildings/?short_name=MSM

 

Onsite day-of media contact: Chip Lambert, 713-743-1286

###

To receive UH science news via e-mail, sign up for UH-SciNews.

For more information about UH, visit the university's newsroom.

For additional news alerts about UH, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.