Prescription Drug Take Back Events
The Bloomington Police Department has partnered with the DEA for a drug take back event typically twice a year. Once in April and in October. The fall of 2023 will be our last Drug Take Back event! We will be encouraging residents to promptly dispose of medications in a collection box in the area versus hold on to them for the bi-annual drug take back events. Refer to the Police Department Events Calendar for specific dates and times.
- Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse.
- Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor's supervision.
- The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common from of drug abuse in America.
- The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends - and the home medicine cabinet.
- Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
- Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. If you can not attend a drug take-back program,
- Take the medications out of their bottles
- Mix them with something unappealing such as used kitty litter or coffee grounds
- Seal them in a bag or disposable container and throw that away
For more information on prescription drug abuse, go to:
www.dea.gov
www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com
www.justthinktwice.com
Information obtained from the DEA.
