Proper Drug Disposal Available in Cook County Even After National Prescription Take Back Day

Prescription drug abuse is an ongoing concern across the country, and especially in Cook County. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health millions of people are using prescription drugs like opioid painkillers non-medically. The prevalence of prescription drug abuse and overdoses in local community underscore the critical importance of proper handling and storage of prescription medications in the home. The DEA created the twice a year National Prescription Drug Take Back Days specifically to provide a safe and secure way to dispose of medicines while also educating the public about their potential for abuse.

The spring Take Back Day was held on Saturday, April 30, but the Cook County MEDS Disposal Initiative is reminding residents that proper disposal options exist in the county all year. The Cook County MEDS Disposal Initiative was created to educate our communities about proper medication management, storage, and disposal. Securely storing medications in lock boxes or other inaccessible areas keeps them out of reach of children and those who may be struggling with a substance abuse disorder. Perhaps the easiest and most important thing people can do to prevent drug diversion and abuse is the prompt disposal of medications once you no longer need them.

Prompt and proper disposal of over-the-counter and prescriptions medications has never been easier since Cook County has over 200 year-round disposal sites. Residents can visit www.CookCountyMEDS.org to find a disposal site near them. Simply enter your address into the "Your Location" field at the top and a listing of nearby disposal sites will be generated.

The next National Drug Take Back Day will be in October, but you don't need to wait for it if you have expired medicines right now. Residents can properly dispose of unused or expired medications every day with the help of www.CookCountyMEDS.org.