LANSING. The Michigan State Police (MSP) will partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other local law enforcement agencies for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to provide a venue for citizens to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

MSP’s 29 posts, including several in Upper Michigan, will participate in the one-day ‘Take-Back’ effort. It is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. The posts will be drop-off points for citizens to discard expired, unused and unwanted medications for destruction. No liquids, inhalers, patches or syringes will be accepted. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

“It is important for Michigan residents to have a safe and confidential way to dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs,” said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. “Take-Back Day provides a convenient way for them to do so and helps prevent potential hazards of the misuse of these medications.”

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month. Often, some of these medicines languish in the home and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high…more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends for free, including from the home medicine cabinet.

The following police departments will dispose of medications.  Additional collection sites across the state can be found by going to www.dea.gov.

MARQUETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT MARQUETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT 300 W BARAGA MARQUETTE MI, 49855 0 mi. Map
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE NEGAUNEE POST 180 U.S. 41 EAST NEGAUNEE MI, 49866 13 mi. Map
ISHPEMING POLICE DEPARTMENT ISHPEMING FIRE HALL 100 S LAKE ISHPEMING MI, 49849 19 mi. Map
MUNISING POLICE DEPARTMENT MUNISING POLICE DEPARTMENT 411 MILL STREET MUNISING MI, 49862 41 mi. Map
HANNAHVILLE TRIBAL POLICE DEPARTMENT HANNAHVILLE HEALTH CENTER N15019 HANNAHVILLE B-1 ROAD WILSON MI, 49896 69 mi. Map
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE GLADSTONE POST 922 LAKE SHORE DRIVE GLADSTONE MI, 49837 53 mi. Map
ESCANABA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ESCANABA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 1900 THIRD AVENUE N ESCANABA MI, 49829 61 mi. Map
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE IRON MOUNTAIN POST 1916 NORTH STEPHENSON IRON MOUNTAIN MI, 49801 56 mi. Map
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 300 MAIN STREET MANISTIQUE MI, 49854 62 mi. Map
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE CALUMET POST 55195 NORTH U.S. HIGHWAY 41 CALUMET MI, 49913 69 mi. Map
HOUGHTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HOUGHTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
FRONT OFFICE
403 E HOUGHTON AVE HOUGHTON MI, 49931 76 mi. Map
ONTONAGON COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE ONTONAGON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 620 CONGLOMERATE STREET ONTONAGON MI, 49953