Dispose of Unwanted Medications Responsibly on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Law enforcement agencies from across Michigan and throughout the nation are joining forces to help residents safely and responsibly dispose of their unwanted medications. This initiative, known as National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, is set to take place on Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pharmacist empties pills from bottle into a box for disposal at 2019 Take Back Day on the Michigan Capitol lawn.

Keep Michigan Communities Safe and Healthy

Help keep Michigan communities safe and healthy by disposing of unneeded medications in your home. It’s as simple as bringing them to one of the 4,000 drop-off locations available nationwide.

Free and Anonymous Disposal

Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications. You can safely dispose of the following prescription and over-the-counter drugs:

• Tablets
• Capsules
• Patches
• Other solid forms

Items Not Accepted

Participating law enforcement agencies will not accept the following items:

• Medications from physicians, veterinarians, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or pharmacies and vapes from retailers
• Liquid medications
• Vitamin/supplements or personal care products, like hand sanitizers, shampoos, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, etc.
• Needles/sharps or bio-hazardous materials containing blood and/or body fluids
• Recreational or prescribed marijuana or marijuana products

Preventing Pill Abuse and Theft

This nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative aims to prevent pill abuse and theft. Here are some important facts to consider:

• Unused or expired prescription medications pose a public-safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
• Pharmaceutical drugs are just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
• The majority of those abusing prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends or the home medicine cabinet.
• Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold, potentially contaminating groundwater or soil. Flushing unused drugs can also contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.

Additional Resources

For more information regarding drug treatment and prevention, visit Michigan.gov/Opioids. To find year-round drop-off locations that accept other medications, supplements, needles/sharps, and more, go to Michigan.gov/EGLEDrugDisposal and explore EGLE’s Household Drug Take Back Web Map.

Read More of this Story at www.michigan.gov – 2023-10-24 05:13:59

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