Stony Brook University’s Student Health, Wellness & Prevention Services and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department joined together on April 24 at the Student Activities Center to support the collection of unused or expired sunscreen or medications. The Pharmaceutical Take Back event ran from 12 pm to 3 pm and also gave students and employees a chance to meet a pharmacist at the Student Activities Center Kiosk.
Pharmaceutical Take Backs are an effort to promote the safe disposal of medications and sunscreens so they don’t harm the water supply and the ecosystem. According to the Center for Disease Control’s website, some sunscreen ingredients are found to bleach and kill coral reefs, which are essential to the ecosystem since they provide nitrogen and other nutrients. The event is an educational opportunity for the campus community as well as a safe space for them to drop off any unwanted or unneeded medications.
“The amazing Stony Brook community of care comes together again to support our environment,” said Kathleen Valerio, health educator and program coordinator at Stony Brook. More than 62 pounds of medication and/or other products harmful to environment were collected and disposed of by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department.
— Johanna Baeyens, Community Relations
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