(WWJ) Metro Detroiters looking to clear out their medicine cabinets have a safe, free, and convenient way to dispose of unwanted medications this weekend.
Michigan Stare Police, local police departments, health systems, and community organizations in Metro Detroit are joining forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Local drop-off collection events will take place on Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holding onto expired or unused prescriptions increases the risk of accidental poisonings, theft, and drug misuse. Throwing pills in the trash or flushing them down the toilet can also contaminate local lakes and rivers. Participating in Take Back Day lets residents clear out their homes safely, anonymously, and free of charge.
Collection Locations and Schedule
All drop-off sites are open to the public with no paperwork or questions asked.Friday, Oct. 23 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Friday, Oct. 23 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Corewell Health Hospitals (Southeast Michigan)
- Corewell Health Dearborn Hospital: Care Center inside the Professional Office Building (POB), near the former main entrance on the south side (18101 Oakwood Blvd, Dearborn).
- Corewell Health Taylor Hospital: East entrance (10000 Telegraph Rd, Taylor).
- Corewell Health Trenton Hospital: Main entrance (5450 Fort St, Trenton).
- Corewell Health Wayne Hospital: Main lobby (33155 Annapolis Rd, Wayne).
Saturday, Oct. 24 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Dearborn & Community Sites
- Dearborn Police Department: Front lobby (16099 Michigan Ave, Dearborn).
- Henry Ford Centennial Library: Hosted by the ACCESS Center (16301 Michigan Ave, Dearborn).
Corewell Health Hospitals
- Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital: North Tower entrance area (3601 W 13 Mile Rd, Royal Oak).
- Corewell Health Troy Hospital Care Center: Beaumont Medical Park, across from the main campus (44250 Dequindre Rd, Sterling Heights).
Michigan State Police (MSP) PostsAll 31 Michigan State Police posts statewide are participating as drop-off locations. Metro-area posts include:
- Metro South Post: 12111 Telegraph Rd, Taylor.
- Metro North Post: 14350 Ten Mile Rd, Oak Park.
Local police departments & municipalities
Participating police departments across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and surrounding counties include Livonia, Warren, Troy, Chesterfield Township, Detroit (7th Precinct), and many others.
What you can and cannot bring
Participates are asked to remove medications from their original prescription bottles prior to drop-off to protect personal health information.
Accepted items:
• Prescription pills & tablets
• Liquids
Items Not Accepted
• Prescription medication patches
• Needles & syringes (Dispose of properly in a sharps container)
• Sharps (Dispose of properly in a sharps container)
• Prescription bottles with identifying labels
More collection locations
To find additional collection sites across Michigan or nationwide, enter your ZIP code into the DEA Take Back Site Locator or visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
