Safe Storage and Disposal

No matter the substance, it’s a good idea to store it out of the reach of children, pets or unsuspecting adults who might not realize what the substance contains. Make sure to keep substances labelled and secured in a child-proof container or location.

Bringing expired, unwanted or unused prescriptions or medications of any kind to a Medi Drop box (located within the City of Cornwall) or to any pharmacy near you is the most secure and environmentally friendly way to get rid of them.

Safe storage and safe disposal will help reduce the risk of:

• Use of medications or other substances to get high.
  Twenty-seven percent of students say that it is easy to get prescription opioids. About 22% of Ontario students have used opioids (non-medically) in the past year.¹
• Accidental poisonings of young children or other unsuspecting individuals.
  Thirty two percent of cases reported to poison centres in 2018 were concerning children ages 5 years or less.  Children younger than five years old also have the highest rate of emergency department visits for unintentional poisonings.²

References

¹ Boak, A., & Hamilton, H. A. (2024). “Drug use among Ontario students, 1977–2023: Findings from the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS),” Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, 2024. Available: https://www.camh.ca/-/media/research-files/osduhs-drug-use-report_2023.pdf

² Jiang A, Belton KL, & Fuselli P (2020). Evidence Summary on the Prevention of Poisoning in Canada. Parachute: Toronto, ON.