Grayslake Police Department Plans Drug Disposal Event

Submission by the Grayslake Police Department 

The Grayslake Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration will be hosting a drug disposal event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 30 at the Grayslake Police Department and at the Hainesville Village Hall.

The purpose of the event is to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Residents can bring their pills for disposal to the Grayslake Police Department located at 10 South Seymour Ave Grayslake or the Hainesville Village Hall located at 100 Hainesville Road Hainesville.

The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last September, Americans turned in 350 tons (over 702,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 10 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 5.5 million pounds—more than 2,750 tons—of pills.

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. 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.