Buffalo Grove PD Participating In Prescription Drug Take Back Day

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — Twice a year, the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with thousands of law enforcement partners across the United States, hold National Prescription Take Back Day events.

The last event, held on April 27, resulted in the collection of 670,136 pounds of unneeded medications at 4,869 collection sites nationwide.

Locally, many police departments took part in the collection, including the Buffalo Grove Police Department. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, drop off your unused or unneeded medications at 46 Raupp Blvd. If you can't make it that day there is also a permanent receptacle to drop off unwanted prescription drugs in the police station lobby. Please note, no needles or syringes are accepted at this event. If you need to dispose of these items, use WM's At Your Door special collection that’s part of your regular waste service.

In Illinois, 27,565 pounds of drugs were collected, across 174 sites. Since the program began, the state has collected 788,356 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the majority of people who use prescription medication for a nonmedical purpose obtained the medication from a family member or a friend. The DEA believes removing unnecessary medications from the home "can help prevent situations involving; not taking medication as intended or dosed; taking someone else’s prescription; and taking the medicine for euphoric effects rather than medicinal purposes."