Prescription Drug Take Back Day Sept 29

LANSING, Mich. (WOOD) - Michigan State Police (MSP) will again partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other local law enforcement agencies for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to provide a venue for citizens to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

MSP's 29 posts will participate in the one-day effort between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sept. 29, by serving as drop-off points for citizens to discard expired, unused and unwanted medications for destruction. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

"It is important for Michigan residents to know there is a safe and confidential way to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs," said Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. "Take Back Day allows them to do this and helps prevent the potential hazards of the misuse of these drugs. Citizen response to this program has been favorable, with the MSP collecting nearly 700 pounds of prescription drugs at the last event in April."

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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.

MSP collection sites include the following:

Allegan County/Barry County

Wayland Post
544 N. Main Street
Wayland
269.792.2213
 
Alcona County/Alpena County/Montmorency County/Oscoda County/Presque Isle County

Alpena Post
3283 W. Washington
Alpena
989.354.4101

Bay County/Midland County/Saginaw County

Bay City Post
405 N. Euclid Avenue
Bay City
989.684.2235
 
Berrien County/Cass County

Niles Post
1600 Silverbrook Avenue
Niles
269.683.4411

Branch County/Calhoun County/St. Joseph County

Coldwater Post
186 E. State Street
Coldwater
517.278.2373

Chippewa County/Luce County

Sault Ste. Marie Post
3900 I-75 BR
Sault Sainte Marie
906.632.2217

Delta County/Menominee County/Gladstone Post

922 Lake Shore Drive
Gladstone
906.428.4412

Dickenson County/Iron County

Iron Mountain Post
1916 N. Stephenson
Iron Mountain
906.774.2122

Clinton County/Eaton County/Ingham County

Lansing Post
7119 N. Canal Road
Lansing
517.322.1907

Genesee County/Shiawassee County

Flint Post
G-4481 Corunna Road
Flint
810.732.1111

Gogebic County/Ontonagon County

Wakefield Post
100 Sunday Lake Street
Wakefield
906.229.5372

Baraga County/Houghton County/Keweenaw County

Calumet Post
55195 N. US Highway 41
Calumet
906.337.5145

Clare County/Isabella County/Mecosta County/Osceola County

Mount Pleasant Post
3580 S.Isabella Road
Mt. Pleasant
989) 773-5951

Gratiot County/Ionia County/ Montcalm County

Lakeview Post
10300 Howard City-Edmore Road
Lakeview
989.352.8444

Hillsdale County/Jackson County

Jackson Post
3401 Cooper Street
Jackson
517.780.4580

Kalamazoo County/Van Buren County

Paw Paw Post
43255 60th Avenue
Paw Paw
269.657.5551

Kent County/Muskegon County/Ottawa County

Rockford Post
345 Northland Drive NE
Rockford
616.866.4411

Lapeer County/St. Clair County

Lapeer Post
975 S. Main Street
Lapeer
810.664.2905

Livingston County/Washtenaw County

Brighton Post
4803 Old US-23
Brighton
810.227.1051

Mackinac County/Schoolcraft County

Saint Ignace Post
N430 I-75
St. Ignace
906.643.7582

Alger County/Marquette County

Negaunee Post
180 US-41 East
Negaunee
906.475.9922

Lenawee County/Monroe County

Monroe Post
300 Jones Avenue
Monroe
734.242.3500

Macomb County/Oakland County/Wayne County

Metro Post
14350 W. Ten Mile Road
Oak Park
248.584.5740

Lake County/Mason County/Newaygo County/Oceana County

Hart Post
3793 W. Polk Road
Hart
231. 873.2171

Arenac County/Gladwin County/Iosco County/Ogemaw County

West Branch Post
496 E. Houghton
West Branch
989.345.0956

Antrim County/Charlevoix County/Cheboygan County/Emmet County/Otsego County

Gaylord Post
563 S. Otsego
Gaylord
989.732.5141

Crawford County/Kalkaska County/Missaukee County/Roscommon County

Houghton Lake Post
9011 W. Lake City Road
Houghton Lake
989.422.5103

Huron County/Sanilac County/Tuscola County

Caro Post
1485 Cleaver Road
Caro
989.673.2157

Benzie County/Grand Traverse County/Leelanau County/Manistee County/Wexford County

Cadillac Post
7711 S. US-131
Cadillac
231.779.6040