Law enforcement offices across Michigan are hosting a prescription drug take back event Saturday and an increasing number of northern Michigan sheriffs collect pills year round, including prescription narcotics.
According to the Michigan State Police, studies show most teens who abuse prescriptions get them for free from places like the home medicine cabinet.
“It is a problem and it has been a problem for a while,” says Detective Corey Rice in Emmet County. Rice says undercover cops routinely buy prescriptions on the street.
“We really encourage folks to keep their medication locked up and in a safe place so that other people can’t get their hands on it,” he says.
And Rice says to get rid of unused and expired medications. But flushing drugs is a bad idea. Medications are starting to be found in Lake Michigan and in drinking water.
Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm Michigan State Police posts and some county departments, including Grand Traverse County, will be collecting unused prescriptions, no questions asked.
Meanwhile Emmet County and departments in Mason, Antrim, and Charlevoix have started collect pills year round. Grand Traverse County officials say they soon hope to launch a similar program.
Some sites do not collect liquid medications.
Many pharmacies have also started to take back unused medications in the last couple years in northern Michigan, but only law enforcement can accept narcotics.
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