MSP to hold drug collection

By KIM E. STROM

[email protected]

Wakefield — The Michigan State Police’s Wakefield Post would like residents to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted pills during National Prescription Drug Take-back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents can go to any state police post with their medications (pills only) and drop them off with no questions asked. Anyone who is unable to do so at this time can surrender their unwanted medications at any Michigan State Police post between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

“This is something every Michigan resident can do to make sure unused prescription drugs don’t end up in the wrong hands. Even one pill makes a difference,” said Col. Joe Gasper, director of the Michigan State Police. “Take a few moments to check your home and get rid of these medications. Opioid and prescription drug abuse, accidental poisonings and overdoses are real. Help us fight this crisis,” he said.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Further, disposing of unused medications by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can pose environmental and health hazards,” said the press release.

“What we found over the years of sampling for drugs in the environment since 1970 is that drugs persist in the environment. They don’t break down. They are in very small levels (parts per million) in every body of water,” said Christine Grossman, environmental specialist with the Materials Management Division of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

“The stimulants and depressants that are found affect the behavior of fish. Some become fertilized and develop female eggs when they are male. There is currently no known human effect, but we want to manage and dispose of them properly. When the drugs are disposed of, they are incinerated and can’t persist in the environment,” she said.

All 30 posts throughout the state are participating and collected a total of 1,184 pounds of prescription drugs during the bi-annual April effort last year.

For more information or to find permanent disposal site in your area, visit michigan.gov/EGLErugdisposal or call 1-800-662-9278.