4 Medication Disposal Kiosks Open at DuPage County Walgreens Stores

NAPERVILLE, IL — Four new medication drop boxes have opened at Walgreens stores in Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove and Villa Park.

The launch of the safe disposal kiosks is part of Walgreens’ national strategy to help reduce drug abuse and overdose, according to a Naperville news release. According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 6.5 million Americans misused a prescription drug in 2014. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports a total of 47,055 drug overdose deaths in 2014, including both prescription and illicit drugs. That represents a 6.5 percent increase from 2013 and a 140 percent increase since 2000.

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin welcomed Walgreens’ participation in the County’s efforts to combat heroin and opioid pain pill abuse.

“We know many people who wind up addicted to heroin first became addicted to prescription pain pills. Through our own DuPage Rx Box program, we have collected more than 70,000 pounds of unneeded or expired prescription drugs,” he said in a news release. "We welcome Walgreens’ participation and encourage all families to regularly sort through those prescription bottles and safely dispose of unused medications. This is one easy and convenient way we can all contribute, as together we work to cut the number of overdoses in our communities.”

Naperville has been a leader in the fight against prescription drug abuse with the launch of its Prescription Drug Drop Box program in April 2014. In addition to offering an anonymous way for the public to securely dispose of unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter medication at each of Naperville’s 10 fire stations and the Police Department, the initiative has environmental benefits.

“We know that, in the wrong hands, prescription medications can lead to more severe forms of drug abuse,” Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico said in a news release. “When improperly disposed of, these medications can also have serious environmental consequences for our local waterways. Naperville is grateful to Walgreens for offering another convenient opportunity for the public to dispose of these items and keep them out of the hands of those who might misuse them.”

The safe medication disposal kiosks are located at 63 W. 87th St. in Naperville, 1000 Ogden Ave. in Downers Grove, 324 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn and 200 E. Roosevelt Road in Villa Park. Walgreens will also soon make naloxone, a lifesaving opioid antidote, available without a prescription at its pharmacies in Illinois, 34 other states and Washington, D.C. The program will be rolled out this year on a state-by-state basis.

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