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, April 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. Col Etue says, “With opioid and prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings and overdoses becoming all too common, I strongly urge Michiganders to use this opportunity to check what is in your medicine cabinet.” Authorities note that opioid abuse is a serious public health and public safety issue both in Michigan and nationwide.
The Michigan State Police (MSP) is urging residents to discard expired, unused and unwanted pills during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, one of two annual events held in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies.
All 30 Michigan State Police posts will participate in the one-day ‘Take-Back’ effort on Saturday, April 28, by serving as drop-off points. All collected pills will be destroyed.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is held twice a year, in April and October. During the October 2017 effort, State Police posts collected roughly 802 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.
MSP collection sites can be found online at the link below. Additional collection sites across the state can be found by going to www.dea.gov.
Anyone who is unable to participate on National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day can anonymously surrender their prescription drugs at any Miichigan State Police post, Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, excluding holidays.
Locally, residents of Michigan’s Great Southwest can drop them off at the Niles Post located at 1600 Silverbrook Avenue, where the phone number is 269-683-4411…or the Paw Paw Post located at 43255 60th Avenue, where the phone number is 269-657-5551.
Here’s a link to all State Police collection addresses:
