Prescription Drug Take Back Day Set For Saturday In Palos Heights

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL – National Drug Take-Back Day is this Saturday, April 22, and thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country are hosting drop-off locations where local residents can safely dispose of unused prescription drugs and expired over-the-counter medications.

Residents can drop off prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palos Heights Police Department, 7607 W. College Drive, and Northwestern Palos Hospital, 12251 S 80th Ave, Palos Heights (main entrance driveway, west side of hospital).

Drug Take Back Day is also a good time to remind residents that they can also drop off their unused or expired drugs year round at the Palos Heights police station.

Palos Park police offer a year round collection site at 8901 W. 123rd St.

The drug take-back events sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are held twice annually to help Americans safely dispose of expired and unused prescriptions. In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medicine from circulation since its inception.

“Take Back events are more relevant now than ever because many people who die from drug poisoning unknowingly consume fake pills laced with fentanyl,” Jason Forget said in a news release, special agent in charge of the DEA Washington Administration.

At the October 2022 drug take back day, Americans turned in an astounding 647,163 pounds, or 324 tons, of potentially dangerous drugs. Included in the haul are ever-higher amounts of opioids, the DEA said. Though prescribed for pain management, these highly addictive drugs can be stolen and abused by family members and visitors, including children and teens.

All drugs turned in at collection sites are destroyed by law enforcement. Collection sites do NOT accept needles or liquids.

If you have any lingering opioids or prescription drugs left over from when you needed it, you’ll want to get rid of those pills, so they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Visit the U.S. DEA Diversion Control to find a collection site near you.