RX take back day is Saturday

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.