April 11, 2016, Canton, MI – On Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Canton Police Department will take part in a national collaborative effort with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to remove potentially dangerous prescription drugs from homes in our community. This national take-back initiative will provide a unified opportunity for the public to turn in expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications to law enforcement for destruction.
Unused or expired prescription medications may be placed in a drop box located in the lobby of the Canton Police Department, 1150 S. Canton Center Rd., between the hours of 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016. Drop-offs are free and anonymous, no questions asked. Restrictions include: pills only—liquids and needles will not be accepted.
Prescription drugs can only be accepted by the department during the established program hours.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Unused medicines 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including 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.
For questions, contact Community Relations Officer Patty Esselink at 734/394-5194, or the Canton Police Department at 734/394-5400.
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