Behavioral Health, Community

Drug Take Back Day Encourages Community to Dispose of Unwanted Medications

Corewell Health™ offers drop-off sites and expert resources

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 17, 2022 – Corewell Health, the new name for Spectrum Health, Priority Health and Kent County Health Department have teamed up once again to collect unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Spectrum Health South Pavilion, 80 68th Street SE, Priority Health, 3111 Leonard Street NE and the Kent County Health Department, 700 Fuller Street NE, all in Grand Rapids.

Community members are invited to stop by to dispose of expired prescriptions and other unwanted or unneeded medications. This free and anonymous public service is part of the annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“Last year, Michigan saw 1,925 opioid deaths and many can be linked to prescription medications,” said Dr. Colleen Lane, medical director of Addiction Medicine, Corewell Health. “By bringing unused medications to drop off sites in your area, you are playing a critical role in keeping your community safe.”

The Grand Rapids Police Department and Kent County Sheriff will oversee the local collection sites and ensure the drugs are disposed of in an appropriate manner. The DEA advises the public not to flush medications down the toilet or throw them in the trash because doing so poses potential safety and health hazards.

Locations sponsored or co-sponsored by Corewell Health are listed below. Unless otherwise indicated, the drop-off site will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22:

  • Spectrum Health South Pavilion, 80 68th Street SE, Grand Rapids
  • Priority Health Corporate Office, 3111 Leonard Street NE, Grand Rapids
  • Kent County Health Department, 700 Fuller Ave NE, Grand Rapids
  • Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital, 605 Oak Street, Big Rapids (10-noon)
  • Spectrum Health Reed City Hospital, 300 N. Patterson Rd, Reed City (10-noon)
  • Spectrum Health Pennock, Walgreens, 126 N Broadway, Hastings
  • Spectrum Health Zeeland Hospital, 8333 Felch St., Zeeland
  • Spectrum Health Ludington, Mason County Fairgrounds, 5302 US-10, Ludington (9-12 pm)
  • Corewell Health St. Joseph Hospital, 1234 Napier Ave, St. Joseph
  • Corewell Health Niles Hospital, Lakeland Medical Suites, 42 N St. Joseph Ave, Niles

Additional collection sites are listed on the DEA website.

During the last National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in October 2022, almost five thousand sites across the country collected 324 tons of medications and medical supplies for disposal.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is made possible by partnerships with the Grand Rapids Police Department, Kent County Health Department and Pine Rest.

 

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About Corewell Health™

People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 60,000+ dedicated people—including more than 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,000 nurses providing care and services in 22 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.2 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.

 

Contact:
Andrea Finnigan
Media Relations and Newsroom Web Manager
Office: 616.486.2535
Mobile: 616.293.6050
Email: andrea.finnigan@corewellhealth.org