Do you have prescription and over-the-counter medications that are expired or that you no longer use, including pet meds? Flushing them, or tossing them in the trash, isn't a safe way to dispose of old meds, but the Macomb Police Department (MPD) has a solution.
MPD is hosting three Prescription Drug Take Back days this spring, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 11, March 11 and April 8. A disposal box will be set up in the MPD lobby, located at 120 S. McArthur St. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), medicine take-back options are the best ways to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription and nonprescription (for example, over-thecounter) medicines.
“It's important for us to offer and promote this program as it helps safely remove unused prescription drugs in the home. Unused medication can easily lead to accidental or intentional misuse,' said Interim Chief Todd Tedro. 'By participating in the prescription drug takeback program, we're helping residents safely remove these risks from their households.'
Before disposing of prescription medicines, mark/cover all personal information on pill bottle labels and medicine packaging. Medications dropped off at the take-back locations will be safely destroyed.
How do you know if a medication is harmful to flush or throw in the trash? Check the list of medicines at tinyurl. com/FDAMedFlushList posted by the FDA. More information about how to safely dispose of medications, when drug take back events aren't scheduled, is available at tinyurl. com/FDAMedDisposalInfo For more information on the Macomb Police Department Medication Take Back, email Community Service Officer Sally Vigezzi at [email protected].
