Health & Fitness
Dispose of Unused Medication at Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care St. Charles hosts a collection site on Saturday, October 29
Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to potential accidental poisoning, misuse and overdose. Northwestern Medicine will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day by hosting a collection site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Community members can safely dispose of their unused medications at the drive-up location at Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care St. Charles (on the east side of the parking lot by Kirk Road), 2900 Foxfield Road, St. Charles
“Studies show that many people who use opioids are first exposed to the prescription medications in the homes of family members or friends,” said Sterling Elliott, PharmD, BCMTMS, a clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopaedics at Feinberg School of Medicine. “National Drug Take Back Day is a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused opioids and other prescription medications. If you throw unused medications in the trash, they can be retrieved and used, or illegally sold. If you flush them, they can contaminate the water supply.”
An additional local drive-up site will be hosted at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, East Entrance roundabout, 25 North Winfield Road, Winfield.
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Sharps and liquids will not be accepted, and Take Back Day is for community members, not for commercial organizations.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, the non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks as the second most-common form of drug use in America.
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“The success of the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is possible only with our many law enforcement partners, and with community-minded healthcare providers like Northwestern Medicine,” said Robert J. Bell, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Division. “The large amounts of unwanted prescription drugs collected on Take Back Day reflect our shared commitment to the safety and health of the people we serve.”
Find information about safe medication storage and disposal at nm.org/safemeddisposal.
For more information about prescription drug misuse, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
