ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – If you have expired or unused prescription medication taking up space in your medicine cabinet, Arlington Heights residents have a chance to safely get rid of them later this month.
National Prescription Drug Return Day takes place on October 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The biannual event aims to enable the safe, convenient and responsible disposal of prescription drugs so that they do not fall into the wrong hands.
The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 21st event in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. During the April 2021 event, agencies collected nearly £ 840,000 of unused prescription drugs.
Find out what’s happening in Arlington Heights with free real-time updates from patch.
The service is free and anonymous. All pills are accepted but liquids, needles and sharp objects are not accepted during the event.
The Arlington Heights Police Department is one of the participating agencies. The police collect unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the police authority at E. Sigwalt St. 200.
Find out what’s happening in Arlington Heights with free real-time updates from patch.
Other nearby drop-off points are:
- Mount Prospect Police Department, 911 E. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect
- Elk Grove Village Police Department, 901 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village
If you can’t make it to one of these places, a year-round medication withdrawal website is available here.
Every year, millions of people abuse prescription pain relievers, stimulants, sedatives, and tranquilizers.
According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people abused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people used prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people abused prescription tranquilizers or tranquilizers.
The survey also showed that much of the misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from a medicine cabinet.
According to preliminary estimates by the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 96,700 people died from opioid overdoses in the twelve months ended March 2021.
The Environmental Protection Agency provides guidance on items that will not be accepted at takeback events, including the disposal of sharp items and other medical waste. The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on how to get rid of expired or no longer needed liquid medications.
With the pandemic continuing, both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on safely disposing of medicines without leaving your home.
To request the removal of your name from an arrest report, please send these required items to Arrestreports@patch.com.
Where to drop off unused prescription drugs in Arlington Heights
The rules for answering:
- Be polite. This is a space for friendly local discussion. No racist, discriminatory, vulgar or threatening language will be tolerated.
- Be transparent. Use your real name and substantiate your claims.
- Keep it local and relevant. Make sure your answers stay on topic.
- Read the patch community guidelines.
Reply to this articleanswer