Attorney General Brad Schimel invites all Wisconsinites to do their part in preventing misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers and other pharmaceuticals by taking their unwanted medications, both prescription and over the counter, to Drug Take Back Day locations on Saturday, October 28, 2017. Many drug disposal boxes are also available year-round at law enforcement agencies across the state. “More than two thirds of people who have abused prescription painkillers got them illegally from a friend or family member,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Wisconsinites can help cut down on prescription drug abuse by storing prescription drugs securely and disposing of unused medication through proper methods, like DOJ’s biannual Drug Take Back Day.” In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), local law enforcement agencies will be holding Drug Take Back events across the state on October 28. This effort will continue to bring focus to the issues prescription painkiller abuse and the opioid epidemic cause in Wisconsin. Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the community about the potential abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal of these medications. To find a Drug Take Back Location near you, go to: www.doseofrealitywi.gov/find-a-take-back-location/. Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes.
