Drug take-back day allows a safe way to dispose of old prescription drugs

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Posted: 04/28/2012

(WXYZ) - People with a medicine cabinet filled with expired prescription drugs can dispose of the medication safely at a number of drop off locations offered around the state as part of "Prescription Take-Back Day."

The Drug Enforcement Administration is teaming up with almost four thousand law enforcement agencies all over the country to help collect the unwanted medication.

It's not just an issue of disposal, but also an issue of public health. According to a national survey in 2009 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, more than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies have shown that a majority of prescription drugs obtained for abuse are obtained from family and friends.

"Cleaning out your medicine cabinet is a good idea," said Jeremy Waechter, community organizer for The Taylor Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force . "Hanging onto unused medications can increase the chances of taking the wrong one and old drugs can lose their potency or end up in the wrong hands. They can be taken by children or even stolen out of garbage cans. This is a chance to dispose of them properly."

The task force also notes that throwing medication away increases the chances of it ending up in ground water, and that flushing it down the toilet could damage water treatment systems.

Drugs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at any of the 29 Michigan State Police posts, or at a number of participating local law enforcement agencies.

For more information on Drug Take-Back Day and to find your nearest drop off location, visit the National Drug Take-Back Initiative Website .