At Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center’s Pharmacy Department

(West Islip, NY) Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center’s Pharmacy Department has scheduled a drug “take back” day on Saturday, September 29, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, in partnership with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.  Members of the community may safely dispose of unused or expired medications rather than discarding them in the garbage or flushing them down the toilet which could lead to environmental contamination. There will be bins in the hospital’s main lobby for the collection of these items.

This past April, Good Samaritan successfully collected more than 240 pounds of unused medications.  Unused or expired pharmaceuticals can pose unnecessary risks to individuals and the community.  Drug “take back” days offer a safe and environmentally friendly disposal program that proactively addresses potential hazards associated with improper management.  The program helps protect the natural environment, avoid accidental poisoning and helps prevent against prescription drug abuse.

For further information on the proper disposal of unused or expired drugs, please call (631) 376-4444.

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center is a 537-bed (including 100 nursing home beds), voluntary, not-for-profit hospital located in West Islip.  The medical center, which has more than 4,500 employees and almost 900 physicians on staff, had nearly 30,000 patient admissions and more than 95,000 emergency department visits in 2011.  Good Samaritan is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Visit the website at www.good-samaritan-hospital.org.

Good Samaritan provided more than $43 million in community service and charity care in 2011.  The medical center supplies residents with the tools necessary to maintain good health.  This includes community lectures, screenings, health fairs and other community programs and services.