On Saturday, October 22, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) will coordinate a Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative throughout the state in coordination with a nationwide effort through the Drug Enforcement Administration.
There are several locations throughout Northern Wisconsin where residents may take unused or expired medicines.
In Sawyer County, the sheriff’s department is hosting a site at the Winter Co-op in Winter while the Hayward Police Department will have a drop off spot at their station in Hayward.
The Washburn County drop off site is at the Sheriff’s Office on Hwy 63 in Shell Lake.
The Burnett County Sheriff’s Office on Hwy 35 north of Siren will also be collecting unused drugs.
The drop off spots will run from 10:00 am till 2:00 pm.
The goal of the take-back protocol is to, “provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal of prescription medications, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. Unused prescription medications in homes create a public health and safety concern, because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused, and abused,” states the DOJ website.
Hayward Police Chief Joel Clapero said it’s not uncommon for Sawyer County to take in up to 40 pounds of unused prescription medications.
“We don’t care who brings it in or why. We just want to get the medicines off the streets,” Clapero said. Persons who bring in unused prescription drugs will not be asked any questions and they will remain anonymous.
The DOJ website goes on to say unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain.
“Removing potentially dangerous pharmaceutical substances from our state's medicine cabinets helps to prevent them from going into our water supply. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes around the world,” the DOJ said.
The drug take-back program is intended for households and not for business use.
The items recommended for take back include prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, inhalers, creams, vials and pet medications.
Do Not Bring illegal drugs, needles/sharps, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), mercury thermometers, personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, etc...), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, gas).
Editor’s Note: You can actually bring illegal drugs, just please make sure you provide your name and they will be happy to assist you — plan on staying a little while longer for your visit, though -- Ben
Last Update: Oct 17, 2016 11:18 am CDT
