Dispose of unused and expired prescription drugs Saturday at locations around the suburbs

Saying drug use is rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago branch of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency is urging people to dispose of unneeded prescription drugs on Saturday's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drug can be dropped off at collection sites around the suburbs for disposal.

Liquids, syringes and other sharp devices, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. The DEA will accept vaping devices and cartridges if lithium batteries are removed.

Drop offs can be made between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at police departments including Aurora, Barrington, Batavia, Buffalo Grove, Carpentersville, Cary, Des Plaines, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glenview, Lake In The Hills, Lake Zurich, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Palatine and Prospect Heights.

The Lake County Sheriff's Department will collect drugs at the Warren Township Senior Center in Gurnee; Vehe Barn in Deer Park; Beach Park, Green Oaks, Lake Barrington and Volo village halls; and Antioch and Avon township offices

More locations can be found at https://takebackday.dea.gov/.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 87,200 Americans suffered fatal drug overdoses between Sept. 1, 2019 and Sept. 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a year. The DEA cited studies that show the majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from their medicine cabinets.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cautions against flushing unused drugs, which can contaminate local waterways and ecosystems.

“Rates of prescription pain medication misuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of overdoses due to these drugs,” Special Agent in Charge Chicago Division Robert J. Bell said in a statement. “Please do your part on April 24 — and every day — to reduce the availability of unneeded prescription medication.”