Even as the dialogue and debate over the opiod addiction crisis in America continues, we get word that the Michigan State Police will once again partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day late this month.
All 30 Michigan State Police posts will participate in the one-day ‘Take-Back’ effort from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, October 28th, by serving as drop-off points for Michiganders to discard expired, unused and unwanted pills, which will then be destroyed. Take note, however, that no liquids, inhalers, patches, or syringes will be accepted.
Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, Director of the Michigan State Police calls this, “An excellent opportunity to take a look at the medicines that have collected in your medicine cabinet and properly dispose of something that could potentially be dangerous.” She adds, “Opioid abuse is a serious public health and public safety issue here in Michigan and nationwide. We will do whatever we can to help decrease all too common prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings and overdoses.”
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is held twice a year. During the one-day effort in April, MSP posts collected 597 pounds of prescription drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Further, disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can pose safety and health hazards to the entire community.
Michigan State Police collection sites can be found by clicking the link below. Additional collection sites across the state can be found by going to www.dea.gov. Here’s the link for State Police Posts across Michigan:
http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-59471—,00.html
Anyone who is unable to participate on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day can anonymously surrender their prescription drugs at any State Police post, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, excluding holidays.
