About 70% of teens who abuse prescription painkillers got them through friends or relatives, according to the National Safety Council.
Experts say removing unneeded medications from homes is one way of preventing medication misuse.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration draws attention to proper disposal of prescriptions through the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events, usually held every spring and fall.
Dozens of area police departments are participating in the effort from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 27. For more information or to find a collection site, visit dea.gov/takebackday.
“Unused and expired medications can find their way into the wrong hands with dangerous and sometimes tragic consequences,” said Farmington Hills Police Chief Jeff King, in a statement.
“It’s important to remind everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets to help stop this avoidable risk to public health and safety.”
Many police departments and pharmacies maintain secure drop-off bins for unneeded prescriptions year-round.
Corewell Health, formerly Beaumont Health, is collecting prescriptions from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, April 26, at these locations:
• Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital, 18101 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn• Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital Care Center, 44250 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights• Corewell Health Taylor Hospital, East Entrance, 10000 Telegraph Road, Taylor• Corewell Health Trenton Hospital, 5450 Fort St., Trenton• Corewell Health Wayne Hospital, Main Lobby, 33155 Annapolis St., Wayne.
Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, will take back medications from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Several Detroit-area Kroger stores are also participating in Saturday’s event, including locations in Rochester, Richmond and Sterling Heights. For more information, go to https://www.kroger.com/health/pharmacy/prescriptions/takeback.
WHY NOT JUST THROW AWAY OR FLUSH?
Medications in the trash can still end up in unintended hands or in the soil or waterways.
Flushing medications has the potential to harm wildlife, as water treatment systems aren’t designed to handle them, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
For example, beta blockers, medication prescribed for high blood pressure or chest pain, have been found to interfere with the growth and development of shellfish.
Drugs that disrupt the endocrine system, such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapies, can also disrupt the endocrine systems of aquatic wildlife.
IF YOU CAN’T GET TO A COLLECTION SITE
If a collection site is not available and you must throw medicine in the trash, experts suggest these steps:
• Remove the medicine from its original container and mix it with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds or kitty litter.
• Place the mixture in a sealable bag or other container to prevent medicine from leaking or breaking out of a garbage bag.
Taking unneeded medications to a secure drop-off site is always the preferable method to dispose of them. But the Food and Drug Administration maintains a list of drugs that should be flushed if you can’t dispose of them properly.
Medicines on the list are often misused or can result in death from one dose if inappropriately taken.
For more information, visit https://www.fda.gov/drugs/disposal-unused-medicines-what-you-should-know/drug-disposal-fdas-flush-list-certain-medicines.
