This Saturday, April 28th, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Environmentally, it’s great to have a way to safely dispose of medications instead of flushing them down the toilet or drain, where they can end up in our water system. But more importantly, with opioid misuse as a crucial public safety and public health issue, Drug Take Back Day is way to address the problem and prevent abused prescription drugs from ending up in the wrong hands.
A national survey of U.S. adults who used opioids showed that nearly 6 out of 10 had or expected to have leftover opioids, and nearly 68% of people who abuse pain relievers say they got them from friends or relatives (2013 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health). Do you see the need to get rid of unused opioid prescriptions? By properly disposing of them, you can prevent drug abuse and overdose and save lives!
Hosted by Dose of Reality, Drug Take Back Day happens at least twice a year in Wisconsin at locations around the state. It is completely anonymous, free, and allows you to safely dispose of controlled substances in addition to over-the-counter-medications, ointments, patches, creams, vials, and even pet medications! To find a location near you, view the following interactive map: https://doseofrealitywi.gov/drug-takeback/find-a-take-back-location/
Don’t see a location near you? Or can’t make it on the 28th? There are other ways to safely dispose of your medications:
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Contact your local police department to see if they will accept them.
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Visit your local pharmacy to see if they have a safe medication disposal kiosk. Walgreens offers a location finder on their website.
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The Wisconsin DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) allows mail-back programs for unused medications. Ask about mail-back packages from reputable sources like your doctor, pharmacy, or local police station. Be aware of scams! Legitimate mail-back packages must have pre-paid postage, unique identification numbers and be pre-addressed to a location authorized by the DEA for destroying unused medications.
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Purchase a drug disposal bag such as the following Medsaway Medication Disposal System to dispose of pills at home.