Community

Local Hospitals Participating in Nationwide Collection of Unwanted Prescription Drugs

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 25, 2017 – Spectrum Health and the Grand Rapids Police Department will be collecting unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, October 28 at Grand Rapids Public Schools University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE. This public service, which will be free and anonymous, is part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity for our community to appropriately remove and dispose of unused or expired opioids. This is one piece of Spectrum Health’s strategy to address the opioid crisis – removing opioids, providing rescue medications and training to revive victims of overdose and offering access to comprehensive recovery. We are pleased to be working with many partners in our community to make a difference and improve the health and lives of individuals,” said Tina Freese Decker, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Spectrum Health.

The GRPD will oversee the drug collection and ensure the drugs collected are disposed of in an appropriate manner. The DEA is advising the public not to flush medications down the toilet or throw them in the trash because those methods of disposal pose potential safety and health hazards.

The list of area locations sponsored by local hospitals and law enforcement agencies includes:

  • Grand Rapids Police Department, 1 Monroe Center NW, Grand Rapids
  • GRPS University, 1400 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
  • Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE, Kentwood
  • Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, 200 Jefferson Ave. SE, Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health University of Michigan Health, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming
  • Michigan State Police, Rockford Post, 345 Northland Dr. NE, Rockford
  • Rockford Department of Public Safety, 7 S. Monroe St. NE, Rockford
  • Wyoming Police Department, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW, Wyoming

During the last National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Americans turned in 450 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 8.1 million pounds – more than 4,050 tons – of pills.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs near you, or about  the October 28 public service program, visit the DEA website.

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Contact:
Beth Cranson
Media Relations Manager
Office: 616.391.2603
Mobile: 616.540.0813
Email: elizabeth.cranson@corewellhealth.org