THUNDER BAY – The Norwest Community Health Centre is holding an outdoor drug amnesty event on Wednesday.
Drug Amnesty Day is an opportunity for the public to turn in unused and expired medications to ensure they are disposed of properly and safely.
Organizers say having unused, unwanted and expired medications in one’s home poses a risk to one’s self, one’s family and the community and disposing of them properly ensures they are not passed on to others accidentally, obtained for illegal use and also don’t contaminate the environment.
Health centre officials say they are looking for over-the-counter drugs, prescription medication, cough syrups and cold or flu medication, illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, vitamins and mineral supplements.
Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia can be disposed of without risk of prosecution.
Organizers say the event, conducted in partnership with Janzen’s Pharmacy, Superior Points, the Thunder Bay Drug Strategy and Thunder Bay Police, will be staged from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the health centre at 525 Simpson Street.
Last year’s event collected more than 200 litres of drugs.
Drug Amnesty Day is free and open to everyone, but public health restrictions will apply.
