On Saturday, October 26, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Harper Woods Department of Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Harper Woods DPS at 19617 Harper Ave. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.
Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in the U.S. and remains a top public health concern. Consumers should dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines as quickly as possible to help reduce accidental or intentional overdoses or illegal abuse. The DEA’s “Take-Back” initiative is one of several strategies to reduce prescription drug abuse and diversion in the nation.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Please take a few minutes and inspect your home for unused, expired, or unnecessary medications. The HWDPS will have a public safety officer available to answer any questions you may have regarding this program. Thank you for your assistance in helping us deal with this serious public health issue.
John Vorgitch
Deputy Chief
