Kinney Drugs to host Medicine Collection Day

GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. With pharmaceuticals turning up in the drinking water of more than 50 million Americans, Kinney Drugs plans to mark Earth Day by collecting customers’ unused drugs, the regional retail pharmacy chain announced Wednesday.

Kinney said it would sponsor a Medicine Collection Day on April 24, the 40th annual Earth Day, at seven of its stores. In April 2009, an Associated Press investigation found that pharmaceuticals were present in the drinking water of at least 51 million people in the United States. In addition, Kinney said, as many as 80% of substance abusers have said they take medications belonging to a friend or relative.

“Kinney Drugs is proud to do its part to save the earth and improve the safety of our communities,” Kinney Drugs director of pharmacy operations Mark Duteau said. “In addition to minimizing the environmental impact of improperly disposed drugs, medication collection events help prevent dangerous drugs from falling into the hands of our youth.”

The Medication Collection Day event will take place at Kinney’s stores in Burlington, Vt., and the cities of Auburn, Ithaca, Potsdam, Plattsburgh, Watertown and Whitesboro, all in New York.