Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Adds Medication Take-Back Box To Hospital Lobby

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois - The rate of prescription drug abuse and the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs continues to be alarmingly high. Most of 9.9 million Americans who abused prescription drugs say they obtained them from friends and family, often from home medicine cabinets.

Additionally, medications should not be thrown away in the trash or flushed down the toilet because they will eventually break down and make their way into the water supply. Those factors make safe, secure disposal of unwanted or expired medications a critical public health necessity.

As a result, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields has partnered with the Rotary Club of Chicago Heights-Park Forest to install a Medication Take-Back Box at the hospital. Conveniently located in the hospital's main lobby inside the Crawford Avenue entrance, the Medication Take-Back Box is a sealed and locked receptacle for pills that you no longer want or need to keep. It is unable to take liquids, needles or other sharp objects used in the administration of medication.

"This great resource is available to anyone who wishes to bring their medication in to be disposed of in a safe and secure way," said Karen Yates, Franciscan Health Director of Mission Integration and Volunteer Services.

The Rotary Club of Chicago Heights-Park Forest is the Medication Take-Back Box sponsor. The Rotary Club purchased the box and have committed to purchasing the refill bags that are replaced whenever the Take-Back Box is full.

"The Rotary Club of Chicago Heights-Park Forest is happy to sponsor the Medication Take-Back Box at Franciscan Health," said Mary G. Dankowski, Rotary Club of Chicago Heights-Park Forest President, "Rotary is an international social service organization that works locally and all around the world making a positive difference in people's lives."

"Franciscan Health Olympia Fields is grateful for the support of the Rotary Club of Chicago Heights-Park Forest in sponsoring this wonderful community resource," Yates said.

The Franciscan Health Olympia Fields main entrance is located at 20201 South Crawford Avenue. It is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Take-Back Box is located to the immediate left of the door, just inside the lobby.