Drop off unused prescription drugs at Take Back Day event

The Harper College Police Department is participating in Take Back Day, a national initiative aimed at preventing drug addiction and overdose deaths through the safe and convenient disposal of prescription drugs.

The community is invited to drop off unused or expired prescription drugs between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday, October 25, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, October 26. The police department is located in Building B, Room B101, on the college’s main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine.

This is a convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

If not properly disposed of, unused drugs can lead to accidental poisoning, misuse or overdose. They can also contaminate the water supply.

To learn more about the national Drug Enforcement Agency initiative, visit takebackday.dea.gov.