The Meridian Anti-Drug Coalition (MADC) and Blue Cross of Idaho will be holding a free Prescription Drug Take-Back event on Saturday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Blue Cross of Idaho parking lot at 3000 E. Pine Avenue in Meridian. As Meridian continues to be conscientious of COVID-19, this event will be setup as a drive-through, requiring community members to stay in their vehicles as they drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal.
This Prescription Drug Take-Back event is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) partnership to prevent Rx drug abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Over the 10-year span of Take Back-day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
Since the inception of the Ada County Medication Collection Program in 2009, which includes two DEA sponsored take-back days each year and multiple permanent drop-off locations throughout Ada County, 35 tons have been collected.
Community members dropping off medications at this event will receive information about additional resources to help save lives. Central District Health has medication lock boxes and Overdose Rescue Kits available and Republic Services offers personal sharps containers (all free, while supplies last). In addition, this event will provide safe disposal of vapes and e-cigarette devices (batteries must be removed). Lithium batteries are a fire hazard and must be removed and safely disposed of at a Household Hazardous Waste Collection site.
“The bi-annual take-back days are a great opportunity for community organizations to collaborate on an event that not only offers a quick and easy way to safely dispose of medications, but also provide education and resources to community members,” said MADC Director Kendall Nagy. “83% of the participants at the last take-back day said they know prescription drug abuse is a problem among our local youth however, 73% of those participants said they do not keep their medications in a locked and secure location. We are working to change that.”
MADC encourages all residents to incorporate safe disposal of medications into their Spring-cleaning routine. Take time to look through medicine cabinets, under sinks and other areas where medications are stored to dispose of medications no longer needed. For prescriptions still in use, lock them in a secure location to help reduce risk of diversion or abuse.
For more information about the event in Meridian, visit the MADC Event Calendar.
The Meridian Anti-Drug Coalition’s mission is to strengthen our community through substance abuse prevention. The coalition has more than 30 active members, dedicated to building Meridian into a drug free community where people can safely live, work and raise a family. For more information, visit www.meridianmadc.org.
