Drug Take Back Day Encourages Community to Dispose of Unwanted Medications

Spectrum Health offers drop-off sites and expert resources

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 15, 2020 – 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, Oct. 24, at Spectrum Health Healthier Communities (Widdicomb Building), 665 Seward Ave. NW, and Spectrum Health Medical Group South Pavilion, 80 68^th Street SE, both 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 19^th 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,” said Ken Fawcett, MD, vice president, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. “Also, it is important to be knowledgeable about the resources that are available to individuals and families that are impacted by the opioid crisis. We will have materials and experts on hand at our Seward Ave. and South Pavilion locations, to talk to families. 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.

Additional collection sites are listed on the DEA website.

During the last National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in October 2019, more than 6,000 sites across the country collected nearly 900,000 pounds of medications and medical supplies for disposal. At the Spectrum Health Seward Ave. location, 145 pounds were collected.

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