Letters to the Editor: Pharmacies should make it easy and free to dispose of unwanted drugs

My husband had a minor surgery that had the potential for being painful for several days to a week. His doctor prescribed a heavy pain med. Fortunately, he only needed a couple of them. We didn’t want them in the house, as we often have young guests. It seemed smart to get them out of the house.

A nearby chain pharmacy counter has a sign that reads: “Dispose of expired and unwanted drugs here.” So, I gathered up expired meds from our cabinet, along with the pain meds, and took them to the pharmacy for proper disposal.

Much to my surprise the pharmacy will provide you with an envelope for disposition — at a charge of roughly $5. So, not only do we overpay for your prescription, but you also must pay to safely dispose of unused drugs.

I find this frustrating on two levels. I sincerely doubt many people will spend $5 to dispose unused meds when they can be flushed down the toilet and into our water system — and out to our ocean — for free or kept in the cupboard until they perhaps find their way into our overly drugged society.

Where is the sense in this? Drug companies and pharmacies certainly have methods for disposing of unused and outdated drugs. I don’t think they need to make money on the consumer coming and going; it’s irresponsible and fosters consumers to take the easy way — down the drain!

Bonnie Jeannette

Newport Beach

Ban older planes from John Wayne Airport

In response to “Quieter JWA takeoff pattern tentatively set to begin March 29”, I would like to state that the most obvious departure flight path out of John Wayne Airport is due north, where there are no residents, or vertical takeoffs. It is interesting how the airport authority conveniently situated its first southern noise monitor at the end of the Santa Ana Heights Sherwood Estates community and not at the beginning, so as to avoid the residential properties before the noise monitor that are most impacted, including my residence.

The solution to curtail JWA’s adverse noise impacts for all residents surrounding the airport is to issue an immediate ban on all older commercial jets and mandate that only the new, quieter Boeing 737 VTO (Vertical Take Off) MAX commercial aircraft be allowed to operate out of JWA by year 2020. Force the wealthy airlines to upgrade their fleets or loose their operational permits.

Russ Niewiarowski

Newport Beach

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