Police accept old medications at drop-off event April 28

A number of suburban police departments will participate in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative on Saturday, April 28, allowing people to safely dispose of unwanted or expired pharmaceuticals and medications.

The Drug Enforcement Administration-sponsored event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various collection sites, including Arlington Heights village hall, Rolling Meadows city hall, Elk Grove Village's municipal complex, and Des Plaines and Streamwood police stations. Tablets, capsules and all other solid dosage forms will be accepted, but intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not. The service is free and anonymous.

Last October, the DEA and some 4,200 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies collected 456 tons of unwanted medicines at more than 5,300 collection sites.