Prescription Drug Take Back Day

media release: Safe Communities Madison-Dane County and the African American Opioid Coalition, in partnership with local law enforcement and community organizations, invite the public to participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Safely turn in expired unused, or unwanted prescription drugs at 18 collection sites around Dane County on Saturday, October 28.

Prescription drug misuse is a growing concern across the nation, with severe implications for public health and safety. Leftover and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines can be found in every household in the county. Studies indicate that most misused prescription drugs come from family and friends, so safely disposing of unused medicine is essential. The statistics regarding prescription drug misuse are alarming. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), nearly 45.8% of American Adults used a prescription drug in the last 30 days and nearly 16 million Americans misuse prescription drugs each year. Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them, and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes.

To address these concerns, Safe Communities is hosting three drop-off sites on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in Madison:

1. Elver Park - 1250 Mckenna Blvd Madison, WI 53719

2. Warner Park - 2930 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53704

3. Second Baptist Church - 4303 Britta Pkwy, Madison, WI 53711

These locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 28, 2023, providing a safe way for individuals to dispose of their unused or expired prescription medications. Law Enforcement officers and volunteers will be on hand to collect and securely transport the medications for proper disposal.

To ensure the success of Drug Take Back Day, the Wisconsin Department of Justice relies on assistance from the DEA, and the generous support of Fuchs Trucking, Covanta Energy, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Indiana State Police, Waukesha County, Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office, and all participating local law enforcement agencies.

Safe Communities encourages all community members to take advantage of this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and contribute to the prevention of prescription drug misuse. By participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, you can help protect our environment and keep medications out of the wrong hands.

GUIDELINES:

All waste pharmaceuticals must be generated by a household – no businesses are allowed.

Bring: Prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials, and pet medications. Sharps will also be accepted.

Do Not Bring: Illegal drugs, acids, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreen), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas), mercury thermometers.

Participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medication(s) by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into a disposal box or in a clear sealable plastic bag.

Plastic pill containers should not be collected. Blister packages without the medications being removed are acceptable.

Liquids will be accepted during this initiative. However, the liquids, creams, and sprays must be in their original packaging. Liquids without the original packaging will not be accepted. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

Learn more about the event, time, and locations at https://safercommunity.net/meddrop/

To find other locations in and outside Dane County, go to https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/drug-take-back-day.htm