UNE College of Pharmacy student organizes community drug takeback program

L-R: Pharmacy students Eric Payeur, Katrina Gilman and Liam Lombard
L-R: Pharmacy students Eric Payeur, Katrina Gilman and Liam Lombard

Second-year pharmacy student Katrina Gilman has partnered with the Sanford Police Department to bolster the town’s Drug Takeback Day efforts. Gilman, who is a Hannaford pharmacy intern in Sanford, worked with the police department to establish a takeback site at the store.

Gilman created flyers explaining the importance of proper disposal of drugs, which she posted at supermarkets, walk-in clinics and doctor’s offices in York County. The Sanford police and city council also shared her posters on their official websites and social media.

At the drug takeback event, the most successful in Sanford to date, third-year pharmacy students Liam Lombard and Eric Payeur assisted with collection efforts.

“Within fifteen minutes, we had already filled one bin,” said Gilman. “We actually ended up running out of bins, and had four times the volume of last year’s collection!”

“This event helped to strengthen the relationship between the College of Pharmacy and local law enforcement,” Gilman continued. “It provided a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with many individuals in the community.”

 

To learn more about the University of New England’s College of Pharmacy visit www.une.edu/pharmacy

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions

Returned prescriptions at Drug Takeback Day in Sanford
Returned prescriptions at Drug Takeback Day in Sanford.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.