A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office:
DEA National Drug Take Back is Saturday, April 28 10 AM – 2 PM at 12 different local PD’s
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages residents to take advantage of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) program “National Take-Back Initiative” on Saturday, April 28.
The one-day event is from 10am-2pm, at participating law enforcement sites. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, approximately 2,500 teens a day use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
Residents can bring prescription and over-the-counter, solid dose (tablets, capsules) medications in clear, sealed plastic bags for disposal. Items not accepted include liquids, intravenous (IV) bags/solutions, injectables, needles, lancets and sharps. Prescription labels should be removed (or personal information blocked out with a permanent marker) from plastic bottles before tossing into weekly curbside recycling containers. Twelve (12) participating drop-off sites include –
The DEA's Drug Take-Back logo.
- Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive—Algonquin
- Cary Police Department, 654 Village Hall Drive – Cary
- Crystal Lake Police Department, 100 W Woodstock Street–Crystal Lake
- Fox River Grove & Algonquin Twp Road District, 3702 Hwy 14–Crystal Lake
- Huntley Police Department, 10911 Main Street–Huntley
- Johnsburg Police Department, 3611 N Chapel Hill Road—Johnsburg
- Lakewood Police Department, Village Hall, 2500 Lake Avenue—Lakewood
- Lake in the Hills Police Department, 1115 Crystal Lake Road–Lake in the Hills
- Marengo Police Department, 142 E Prairie Street–Marengo
- McHenry Police Department, 333 S. Green Street – McHenry
- Spring Grove Police Department, 7401 Meyer Road–Spring Grove
- Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Avenue—Woodstock
To find collection sites near you, visit the DEA’s webpage http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. Check often as new sites will be added daily or contact your local police department.
Many Americans are accustomed to flushing their unused medicines down the toilet or throw them in the trash – both potential safety and health hazards.
U.S. Geological Survey studies have found traces of prescription drugs in water samples from 30 states which have been linked to ecological harm to fish and freshwater supplies.
Additional information is available from your participating local law enforcement agency, on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or by calling Kristy Hecke, MCDH’s Solid Waste Manager at 815-334-4585.
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As I have mentioned before, the first person I heard suggest this idea was Dave Bachmann in his campaign for McHenry County Coroner.