SAFE HANDLING OF EXPIRED AND LEFTOVER MEDICATIONS

Everyone, at some point, needs to make use of a medication to prevent or treat a disease or to improve our quality of life. However, if we don’t make proper use of it, you could have negative consequences for our health and for the environment.

It is therefore very important to correctly close the life cycle of medicines and their packaging, which ends with the appropriate final disposal.

With this gesture you will help to guarantee the correct environmental treatment of this waste, you will protect our environment and you will take care of your health.

WHY SHOULD I GET RID OF MEDICINES THAT ARE EXPIRED OR THAT I NO LONGER USE AT HOME?

Consumers should remove expired, unwanted or unused medicines from their homes as quickly as possible to help reduce the chances of other people accidentally drinking or intentionally misuse medication that is no longer needed, and to help reduce the amount of drugs entering the environment.

Having expired medications at home or office generates some risks such as:

• Intoxication
• They can be used to threaten physical and mental health.
• When exposed to humidity or heat, they can undergo chemical reactions that affect not only health, but the environment.

BENEFITS OF THE CORRECT FINAL DISPOSAL OF EXPIRED OR LEFTOVER MEDICINES IN HOMES

Environmental Benefits

• It prevents the remains of medicines from reaching the environment, protecting the fauna and flora of our planet.
• The recycling of packaging materials (cardboard, glass, plastic, etc.) is facilitated, avoiding the felling of trees.
• It contributes to the generation of electricity through the energy recovery of the remains of medicines, thus reducing the consumption of fossil fuels.

Health Benefits

• The accumulation of medicines in the home medicine cabinet is avoided. In this way, you reduce the risk derived from inadequate self-medication, as well as the use of expired or spoiled medications.
• Healthy health habits are encouraged, such as compliance with the treatments prescribed by health professionals or the periodic review of the first aid kit.

WHAT IS THE CORRECT TREATMENT FOR MY MEDICINES?

It is important to store medications in their original container.

In this way you will have the necessary information, such as the expiry date and the conditions of conservation, which will make it easier for you to review the state of conservation of your medications.

You should keep empty containers (jars, blister packs, etc.) and boxes of cardboard, as you finish using the medications.

This is very important because the containers always contain traces of the drug and, in addition, they do not they serve to make a better classification for their proper environmental management.

Never store leftover doses of treatments prescribed by your doctor in the medicine cabinet, as well as You avoid the risk of inappropriate self-medication.

WHEN SHOULD I GET RID OF EXPIRED AND LEFTOVER MEDICINES IN MY HOME?

• When my doctor changes my treatment and changes my prescription.
• When my medical treatment ended.
• When I have medications whose expiration dates have passed

WHAT TO DO WITH EXPIRED AND LEFTOVER MEDICINES IN YOUR HOME?

IFA CELTICS is a member of SINGREM’s
waste management plan
SINGREM is the National System for the Management of Drug Packaging Waste, it is a civil association non-profit organization and its function is to help collect expired medicines at various points in different cities in Mexico.

Where to take them?Do not throw them in the trash or drain.

Locate the special SINGREM container closest to your home.

They have a presence in public or private pharmacies and hospitals.

Find your collection center at:

How to wear them?

Gather expired medicines, leftover treatments and their cardboard boxes.

Place them in a transparent bag.

Remember not to separate the pills from their original blister packs or packaging.

Final Disposition

SINGREM collects and destroys drugs safely through licensed companies.

With this action you avoid the illegal market of medicines, prevent poisoning in the home and protect the environment.