Crystal Lake Police Department Holds Drug Take-Back Event

The Crystal Lake Police Department is participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back event this Saturday.

The public is invited to discard of unwanted prescription medication from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the police department headquarters, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. 

Partnering again with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Crystal Lake Police Department is holding the program in an effort to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, according to a news release issued by Crystal Lake Police Cmdr. Dan Dziewior. 

Residents can bring their medications, excluding liquids and needles, for disposal. This will be a “drive-through” operation, and those participating will not need to exit their vehicles.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked, Dziewior said. 

Last April, Americans turned in over 742,000 pounds of prescription drugs at over 5,800 sites operated by the DEA along with state and local law enforcement partners.  

In its six previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2.8 million pounds—more than 1,400 tons—of pills. 

"This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue," Dziewior said in the release. "Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."

Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. 

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash— pose potential safety and health hazards.