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Students and faculty from the 51Ʒ�� School of Pharmacy recently collaborated with the Portland Police Department for National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, working to help Maine residents safely dispose of unused or unwanted medications. 

Leading the efforts were Kerry Martin, Pharm.D., RPh, director of experiential education in the School of Pharmacy, and Madison Higgins, Pharm.D., a UNE/CVS Specialty Services pharmacy resident.

Students Kelsee Gladu (Pharm.D., ’25), Muna Mahmoud (Pharm.D., ’25) and Emma Miller (Pharm.D., ’28) joined the event held at Portland’s Back Cove, where they helped collect expired and unused medications, fielded questions on safe disposal practices, and learned from community health professionals, including nurses from MaineHealth and representatives from the Northern New England Poison Center. 

“Drug Take Back Day was a great experience. Seeing the flow of the event and hearing from the Portland P.D. and staff from poison control was very informative,” Miller reflected. “The whole experience was a great educational opportunity, and I think it is an incredibly important event to keep the population safe from unused and unwanted medications.”

Martin highlighted the dual impact of the day, noting that the event provided “an opportunity to engage with our community and better understand public health issues related to medication disposal and substance misuse.”

Through the hands-on experience, 51Ʒ��students contributed to a statewide effort that, in collaboration with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, led to the collection of over 5,600 pounds of unneeded drugs across Maine. The event reinforced UNE’s commitment to promoting healthier communities while engaging students in dynamic, hands-on learning opportunities that will prepare them for careers in Maine’s health care workforce.

“Involvement in National Drug Take Back Day empowers student pharmacists to contribute meaningfully to their communities, promoting health and safety while preparing them for their future roles as pharmacists dedicated to improving patient outcomes and community well-being,” Martin said.