Get Rid Of Unwanted Prescription Meds In Cleveland Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Cleveland Heights residents can get rid of unwanted and unneeded prescription medications during National Drug Take Back Day.

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can go to the Heights Police Department, 40 Severance Circle, to drop off their pills. Officers will ensure the prescriptions are properly disposed of.

"Unused or expired prescription drugs are a public safety issue which can lead to accidental overdose, poisoning and abuse. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family or friends – specifically the home medicine cabinet," said Cleveland Heights Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg.

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The federal Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 21st event in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. During the April 2021 event, agencies collected nearly 840,000 pounds of unused prescription drugs.

The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles, and sharps won’t be accepted during the event.

"Simply throwing unwanted medications in the trash can is not a good disposal method as they can be easily retrieved," Mecklenburg warned.

If you can’t make it to any of those locations, here’s where to find a year-round drug take-back site.

Each year, millions of people misuse prescription pain relievers, stimulants, tranquilizers and sedatives.

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives that year.

The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a home medicine cabinet.

More than 96,700 people died from opioid-involved overdoses during the 12-month period ending in March 2021, according to provisional estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics.

The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on items not accepted during take-back events, including the disposal of sharps and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

Given the ongoing pandemic, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency also have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs without leaving home.