Police Department Announces Second Drug Take-Back Day

As they did last September, the Western Springs Police Department will host a “drug take-back” day next Saturday to collect and dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs from the community.

September saw the first National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, with over 2,900 law enforcement agencies, including Western Springs, together collecting over 121 tons of prescription drugs.

"There's definitely a need to rid ourselves of this old prescription medicine," Deputy Chief Brian Budds told Patch in September. "It's not recommended to just throw out old medicine… it would be dangerous for someone, especially a child, to obtain that medication."

Collection will take place at the Western Springs Police Department (740 Hillgrove Ave.)  on Saturday, April 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

As before, disposal is completely anonymous, and residents are suggested to remove all labels before turning in any medications.  Nobody, not even the presiding officer, will know what is being turned in. There is no cost for disposal. Syringes, intravenous solutions and illegal drugs, however, will not be accepted—only prescription medication.

Disposal is completely free of charge.

“Expired, unused or unwanted controlled substances in our homes can be an unacceptable risk to public health and safety,” said a release from the Department.

The same release cited a 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimating that there are 7 million non-medical users of prescription drugs in the United States.