Drug Take Back Day a good time to dispose of old meds
More than 290 local law enforcement agencies are set to participate in some way in Drug Take Back Day across the state, Saturday, April 24. Wisconsinites are encouraged to dispose of unwanted and unused medications, at Drug Take Back and drug disposal locations.
The Cadott Police Department will be open that day to collect medications, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and if the officer on duty is called away, a note will be left, asking people to wait for their return. In Cornell, the police department is taking medications throughout normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the community about the potential abuse and consequences of improper storage, and disposal of these medications. Wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing when visiting a drug disposal site, is recommended.
Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them, and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes. All waste pharmaceuticals must be generated by a household – no businesses are allowed.
Prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-thecounter medications, ointments, patches, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications are accepted at locations, as well as vape pens or other e-cigarette devices (batteries removed).
Items that are not accepted, are illegal drugs, needles/ sharps, acids, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas) and mercury thermometers.
Participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medication(s) by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into a disposal box, or into a clear sealable plastic bag. Plastic pill containers should not be collected and blister packages without the medications removed are acceptable.
Liquids will be accepted during this initiative. However, the liquids, creams and sprays must be in their original packaging. Liquids without the original packaging will not be accepted.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative, and should not be placed in collection containers.
