National Prescription Drug Take Back

Milwaukee, WI – National Prescription Drug Take Back Day helps people give back all their old and expired prescription medicines. The initiative – which is authorized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a free program and encourages residents nationally to be responsible with properly disposing medication.

When people don’t know what to do with unused or unwanted medicine, there is a terrible danger to children and the environment. Too often unused, and expired medications find their way into the wrong hands, creating dangerous and often fatal situations. Improper disposal – like flushing pills down the toilet — leads to opioids polluting the waters of Lake Michigan.

“Overdose is the leading cause of unnatural deaths in Milwaukee County and has killed people at almost twice the rate of homicides – indeed it is the most significant public safety challenge we face in Wisconsin.” – Bridget Whitaker, Safe & Sound Executive Director

Bringing unused and expired medications to a Drug Take Back Day collection site protects you, your family, and our community. So, in honor of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – Safe & Sound is partnering with the Milwaukee Police Department, bringing neighborhoods across Milwaukee & Racine together to fight against the opioid crisis through safe disposal. It’s easy to participate.

On Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. stop by one of five drop sites and drop your unused, expired, and unwanted medications into a bin. It’s that simple. No questions are asked. You‘ll be in and out of a collection site in minutes.

District 2: Christ St. Peters (2137 W. Greenfield Ave)
District 3: Pick N Save (2355 N. 35th Street)
District 4: Walgreens (9040 W. Good Hope Road)
District 5: Coffee Makes You Black (2803 N. Teutonia Ave)
District 7: Epikos Church (3737 N. Sherman Blvd)

To help in the fight against the opioid crisis, we are urging the community to check your home and medicine cabinets for unused or expired medications and bring them to a drop-off location.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications that may be disposed of at Drug Take Back Day collection sites, include:

• Capsules
• Creams
• Inhalers
• Non-aerosol sprays
• Ointments
• Patches
• Pills
• Vials
• Liquids must be in their original container.
• Pet medications are accepted.
• Vape pens are accepted with the batteries removed.
• Other e-cigarette devices are accepted with the batteries removed.

NOTE: Batteries are highly flammable. So, it is important that the batteries are removed before the pen or device is placed in a collection bin.  

ABOUT SAFE & SOUND

Safe & Sound is a Milwaukee nonprofit that unites residents, youth, law enforcement, and community resources to build safe and empowered neighborhoods.  This is achieved through community organizing, youth development activities, and fostering partnerships between community and public safety resources. In 2023, Safe & Sound will celebrate 25 years of being a nationally recognized model for improving neighborhood public safety. Please visit our new website www.safesound.org for more information.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.