FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Orland Park Police Participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
Residents are encouraged to clean out medicine cabinets to keep dangerous drugs from falling into the wrong hands
Orland Park, IL (October 10, 2023) - The Orland Park Police Department joins law enforcement agencies across the country for the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Residents are encouraged to drop off no longer needed prescription medications to the Orland Park Police Department on Saturday, October 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The station is located at 15100 South Ravinia Avenue.
Unused drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal consumption and pose an unacceptable risk to public health and safety. The Orland Park Police Department coordinates its effort with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring national focus to the issue of pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
"The Village of Orland Park’s continued participation in this program provides residents with a safe place to dispose of their unwanted and unused prescription drugs," said Mayor Keith Pekau. "Orland Park has been in the forefront of battling illegal drug use within the community and the region and will continue to provide the necessary resources to keep our residents safe."
The confidential and anonymous service is free of charge. Syringes, sharps, needles, glass containers, any type of liquids or illegal drugs will not be accepted.
Instructions for how to safety dispose of sharps or syringes are available by calling Waste Management at (800) 964-8988.
"We invite and encourage everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of what they no longer need," said Police Chief Eric Rossi. "In addition to the twice yearly national drug take-back event, the Orland Park Police Department collects prescription drugs year-round to make sure these drugs do not end up in the wrong hands.”
According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.3 million Americans misused controlled prescription pain relievers. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA's Take-Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
The April 2023 National Take Back Day brought in 663,725 pounds (332 tons) of unused or expired prescription medication. This brings the total amount of prescription drugs collected by DEA since the fall of 2010 to 17,300,454 pounds (8,650 tons).
The Police Department's ongoing collection enables residents to turn in unwanted prescription medications at the Orland Park Police Department Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Prescriptions are not accepted on holidays and liquid drugs, aerosol medications and hypodermic needles and syringes are not accepted. There is no charge to participate and all disposals are confidential and anonymous.
For more information about the event visit dea.gov/takebackday.
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