Drug Take-Back Day Saturday

From Dearborn PD: The Dearborn Police Department, in partnership with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will participate in National Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29.

Residents are encouraged to bring their unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications to the Dearborn Police Station, 16099 Michigan Avenue.

Drop-offs are free and anonymous with no questions asked. Only pills will be accepted. No liquids or needles may be turned in.

“It is important to ensure that controlled substances are disposed of properly to prevent accidental ingestion by children or abuse by others,” Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said in a news release.

Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills.

Saturday’s collection marks the 12th opportunity in six years that Dearborn residents are actively able to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. This law enforcement initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.
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 that 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, like flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, create environmental and health hazards. For further information, contact the Dearborn Police Department at 313-943-2240.

Image Via Flickr Commons