Community Corner

Get Rid of Unused Drugs April 28

A federal effort is designed to dispose prescription drugs safely.

Tons of prescription drugs have been kept out of the wrong hands, thanks to an annual federal effort to collect and properly dispose them.

This effort, called the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, will be held throughout the country from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time Saturday, April 28.

In Oak Park, unused and expired prescription drugs can be dropped off at the, 123 W. Madison St. See below for a list of other west suburban drop-off sites.

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The program is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national and community partners to give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The fourth annual national event is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Hypodermic syringes will not be accepted.

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According to the DEA, Americans participating in its three previous Take-Back Days turned in nearly a million pounds—almost 500 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites across the country.

A recent study illustrates the importance of disposing of unused medicines. According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. show that more Americans abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined, Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

“Prescription drug abuse is a major epidemic across the country and DEA is committed to reducing the potential for misuse by providing a safe and secure method for Americans to clean out their medicine cabinets and properly dispose of unwanted, unneeded, or expired medications,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart in a prepared statement. 

Where You Can Drop Off Drugs

  • Clarendon Hills Police Department, 448 Park Ave.
  • Cook County Sheriff’s office, Maywood Courthouse, 1500 Maybrook Dr.
  • Elmhurst, 1256 E. First St.
  • Geneva Police Department, 20 Police Plaza
  • Hinsdale Police Department, 121 Symonds Dr.
  • La Grange Park Police Department, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
  • Kane County Sheriff’s Office, 37W755 IL Route 38
  • Naperville Police Department Safety Town, 1350 Aurora Ave.

Other Locations

If you want to find another site, visit dea.gov, click on the “Got Drugs?” icon, follow the links to a database and enter a ZIP code.


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