Saturday April 30 is National Prescription Take-Back Day in the U.S.A. The Drug Enforcement Administration has organized a network of local law enforcement agencies to accept unwanted or expired human or veterinary drugs and to educate the public about the need to properly dispose of these medications.
Check DEA’s handy collection site locator if you want to drop off your drugs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30.
If you live in the Champaign-Urbana area you can use secure dropboxes ANYTIME in the lobbies of the following police departments:
Champaign: 82 E University Ave.
Urbana: 400 S Vine St.
University of Illinois: 1110 W Springfield Ave, Urbana.
Of course the DEA is interested in halting abuse of unused drugs which are often misappropriated from the home medicine cabinets. But a DEA news release makes the alarming understatement that “Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.” To keep unused medications out of the reach of children and pets and also to prevent abuse by others taking the medications, all unused medications should be taken to drop box collection sites. You should keep the medications in their original containers and black out your name and address if on the label before dropping them off.
Information on ISTC’s recent research on the emerging problem is available online. A lot more about proper handling and disposal of drugs and personal care products is provided by IL-IN Sea Grant.
ISTC, IL-IN Sea Grant, and the U of I Extension are now working together to improve pharmaceutical give-back locations state-wide. Scientific studies are revealing the bio-active compounds are having observable consequences when they get into the aquatic environment.