NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY is September 26

The Taylor Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force and the Taylor Police Department will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Sept. 26.

Members of the community will be able to dispose of any unused, expired or unwanted medications free of charge at the TPD, 23515 Goddard Road, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Saturday, September 26. 

Senior citizens and their families also can drop unused, unwanted prescriptions off at the Ford Senior Citizens Activity Center, 6750 Troy, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, September 25. The senior collection is being held a day early as the Ford Center is closed on the weekends. Task Force members and Police personnel will be on hand to properly dispose of medications.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, Police Chief Mary Sclabassi said. “The program allows residents to safely and anonymously drop off expired or unused prescriptions and any other controlled substances.” 

Drugs dropped off at the police station and Ford Center will be sealed and taken by the DEA to be safely destroyed, at no cost to the city.

“We are regular participants of the DEA initiative, “Sclabassi said. “We’ve participated each year over last five years. We encourage people to dispose of any medications that are no longer needed.”

Simone Calvas, Project Director for the Task Force, said they’ve collected more than 500 pounds of drugs at the previous Take-Back Days. She noted that often, when an elderly or ill family member passes on, the family is left with their unused medications. In addition, when people switch or only take medications for a limited period of time, users will find themselves with some leftover drugs.

“The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is held to help remove expired or unwanted prescription medications from possible abuse or misuse,” Sclabassi said. “We want to help keep these drugs off the streets and dispose of them in a safe manner.”

In the Great Lakes Region, proponents strive to keep the drugs out of the region’s waterways. Flushing medicines down the drain can affect wildlife and interfere with wastewater treatment plants. In addition, medications thrown in the trash are often retrieved and used illegally.

While Taylor participates in the Take-Back Day event to promote awareness, the Task Force and TPD also operate a permanent drug take back box at police headquarters. Residents can safely dispose of unwanted meds throughout the year by taking them to the police station.

Several other communities are partnering with the DEA and Taylor for the September 26 National Prescription Take-Back Day. Downriver police stations collecting unused, unwanted prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. include:

Taylor Police Department

23515 Goddard

Taylor, MI 48180

Lincoln Park Police Department

1427 Cleophus

Lincoln Park, MI 48146

Ecorse Police Department

3860 West Jefferson

Ecorse, MI 48229

Melvindale Police Department

3100 Oakwood Blvd.

Melvindale, MI 4812

Community members can bring all unwanted prescription meds to participating Police Departments to receive proper disposal. Medications can be left in their current bottles or packaging. DEA officials ask participants to not bring any sharps items, such as needles, or compressed inhalants in metal containers.