Drug take-back events set for April 28 in Lake County

Some suburban police departments are hosting events Saturday, April 28, to collect unwanted prescription drugs.

Lake County sheriff's office will host the free, anonymous event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three locations: Beach Park village hall, 11270 W. Wadsworth Road, Beach Park; Long Grove Fire Protection District, 1165 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove; and St. Peter's Catholic Church, 27551 Volo Village Road, Volo.

Rosalind Franklin University medical students will be on hand at each location to provide blood pressure screenings.

The Lake Zurich Police Department will host its event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 200 Mohawk Trail in Lake Zurich.

Each year, police partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration on the national "Drug Take Back" program that encourages the public to prevent substance abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Last year, Lake County's law enforcement agencies collected more than 13,000 pounds of unwanted, unused and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines - a 21 percent increase over the 2016 total.

Police remind the public, unused prescription drugs that remain in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to abuse, creating a public health crisis. Dispose of your unused and expired medicine in an environmentally friendly manner. The Lake County sheriff's office and several local law enforcement agencies also participate in the Save-A-Star prescription drug disposal box program. A disposal box is at the Sheriff's Administration, 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 28 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.