KANKAKEE AREA METROPOLITAN ENFORCEMENT GROUP (KAMEG), BOURBONNAIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, KANKAKEE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE BRADLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Northfield Square Mall, 1600 N. Route 50, Bourbonnais, IL near the east midcourt entrance.
Bourbonnias Police Department, 700 Main NW, Bourbonnais, IL
Kankakee Police Department, 385 East Oak Street, Kankakee, IL
On Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Kankakee Police Department, Bradley Police Department, Bourbonnais Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its seventh opportunity in four years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Northfield Square Mall at 1600 N. Route 50, Bourbonnais, IL or to the Bourbonnais Police Department, 700 Main NW, Bourbonnais, IL or to the Kankakee Police Department at 385 East Oak Street, Kankakee, IL. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Officers from KAMEG, Bourbonnais Police Department, Kankakee Police Department and the Bradley Police Department will be stationed to accept medications. According to Director Aaron Harsy, "this event is a great opportunity for the public to collect old medication and drop the items off for proper disposal". Proper disposal ensures that old and unwanted medications are not disposed of in a way that hurts the environment." Similar to past events, the drop off location at the mall will be set up like a drive thru to allow quick public access to the service.
Director Harsy also advised that several local police agencies have permanent drop boxes where unwanted medications can be disposed of. Residents are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agencies to determine exact locations and hours of availability.
The DEA reports that the response to the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive. More than 2.8 million pounds (1,409 tons) of medication has been removed from circulation.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
94.1 FM, WGFA
