A national programme encouraging the elderly to safely dispose of millions of dollars of unwanted medicines is being run in 14 areas, including Otago.
Home Instead Senior Care, which provides companionship and home care services, is co-ordinating Operation Medicine Cabinet, which aims to protect the elderly and others from accidentally using expired medication.
The organisation estimates most New Zealanders over the age of 70 take at least four medications, and believes many medications are being flushed down the toilet or dumped in landfills instead of being returned to pharmacies.
Home Instead Otago managing director Gabrielle Mills said the programme sought to raise awareness, using flyers and word of mouth.
Access to unwanted medicines was not just an issue which might involve the safety of young children.
Teenagers might be interested in their grandparents' medicine cabinets "for other reasons", she said.
Disposing of medicines correctly also reduced the risk of confusion over medicines and lessened the "huge environmental impact" of flushing them down the toilet or putting them out in the rubbish, Mrs Mills said.
Once medicines have been returned to pharmacies, they are collected by the Otago District Health Board, which disposes of them safely.