Thousands of Pounds of Unused Medications Collected on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
On Saturday, Oct. 26, Michigan residents in 46 counties had a chance to dispose of opioids and other unused and expired prescription medications in their medicine cabinets through 98 simultaneous events held around the state, including four sites in Indiana. The collective effort resulted in hundreds of families safely removing a total of 3,367 pounds of medication from their homes while also increasing awareness in the community about safe medication disposal. Michigan OPEN partnered with healthcare organizations, law enforcement and community organizations to make this event possible.
“We are thrilled with the growth we are seeing in these Take Back Events, especially with the addition of the sites in Indiana and the Upper Peninsula,” said Dr. Chad Brummett, co-director of Michigan OPEN. “Our events are community-based. They provide a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused medications, thereby removing the risks associated with opioids from our communities and our homes.”
The next Take Back Day will occur in April 2020.