Community

Community Invited to Dispose of Unwanted Medications

Spectrum Health collaborating on several drop-off sites

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 12, 2019 – Spectrum Health Healthier Communities,  Priority Health and Families Against Narcotics Grand Rapids Chapter  have teamed up once again to collect unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 27 at Spectrum Health Healthier Communities (Widdicomb Building), 665 Seward Ave. NW, 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 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“In addition to removing unwanted medications from the community, Prescription Drug Take Back Day also provides an opportunity to learn more about addiction and how to prevent it in the first place. We will have materials and experts on hand at the Widdicomb location to talk to families,” said Ken Fawcett, MD, vice president, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. “This day is an important part of our community’s efforts to curtail the opioid crisis.”

The Grand Rapids Police Department will oversee the collection site 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 Spectrum Health are listed below. Unless otherwise indicated, the drop-off site will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27:

  • Spectrum Health Healthier Communities,  Widdicomb Building, 665 Seward Ave. NW, Grand Rapids
  • Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services, 3900 Hollywood Road, St. Joseph
  • Lakeland Medical Suites, 42 N. St. Joseph Ave., Niles
  • Ludington Hospital, 1 N. Atkinson Drive, Ludington
  • Norton Shores Fire Department, 1110 E. Pontaluna  Road, Muskegon (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
  • Zeeland Community Hospital, 8333 Felch St., Zeeland

During the last National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in October, 2018, nearly 6,000 sites across the country collected more than 900,000 pounds of medications and medical supplies for disposal. At the Widdicomb location alone, 175 pounds were collected.

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