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 this Saturday, to provide a venue for citizens to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.
MSP’s 29 posts will participate in the one-day ‘Take-Back’ effort between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27, by serving as 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 andanonymous 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 Cedar Springs Police Department has their drug take-back bin open at City Hall weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 9-5 p.m. It will not be open Saturday. According to Police Chief Roger Parent, they have done it in conjunction with the Take-back day in the past (which usually falls on the Cedar Creek cleanup day), but they were usually holding a city auction at the same time. This year there is no auction, and no need to have a reserve officer on duty, so won’t be opening up City Hall.