Health Department Announces Drug Take Back Day

In an effort to prevent prescription drug abuse, the Mid-Michigan District Health Department joined the U.S. Drug Administration in celebrating National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 28th.

Isabella is partnering with the Substance Awareness Coalition to host a medication take-back event on October 26th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Isabella County CMDHD office at 2021 E. Preston St.

“This DEA event has been national since its inception and was created to provide the public with an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by removing potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from homes,” said Shelby Pash, Pill Specialist. health promotion CMDHD. manager. . .

On "National Take Back Day" in April, Americans successfully turned in 663,725 pounds of prescription drugs at more than 4,900 DEA-operated facilities and engaged a total of 4,497 law enforcement agents, Pash said.

To address public safety and public health concerns, the DEA initiative focuses on medications stored in home cabinets, which are particularly vulnerable to diversion, misuse and abuse, Pash said.

The rate of prescription drug abuse in the United States is very high, as are the rates of accidental poisonings and overdoses, Pash said.

In addition to the DEA's National Prescription Receipt, there are other ways to dispose of unwanted medications, including through 11,000 licensed drug collectors available year-round.

Welcome locations Meijer Mountain, MyMichigan Medical Center, Mission Pharmacy, Walmart Pharmacy and Nimkee Memorial Wellness Center.

Although medication is only administered on a daily basis, CMDHD offers a variety of services through Exchange Central, a local syringe service program.

Exchange Central is a harm reduction program designed to reduce the harm that drug use can cause to individuals and communities, Pash said.

Through Exchange Central, the public can access cleaning supplies, Narcan containers and sharps supplies, as well as free HIV and Hepatitis C testing.

Narcan training is available and secondary exchange is recommended.

Injection services are legal and all participants are protected from all paraphernalia laws.

CMDHD is a member of the Northern Michigan Public Health Alliance, which includes seven local health departments that advocate for public health and serve residents of Isabella, Clare, Gladwin, Roscommon, Arenac and Osceola counties.

Drug Day