SOUTHERN ILLINOIS – On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Drug Enforcement Administration will host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day at locations across the country.
DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Community Prevention Resources and the Regional Office of Education #21 have been helping to coordinate and promote events across Franklin and Saline County.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 150,000 children, 17 years of age or younger, visit emergency departments each year for adverse drug events. Furthermore, one in every 250 two-year-olds visits an emergency department for medication poisoning (United States, Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). While those statistics may be alarming, there are steps we can take to help mitigate these adverse drug events from happening to our children. For more than a decade, the event has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often fall into the wrong hands.
Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.
What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
When: Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Franklin County
Elks Lodge / Benton Police Department
167 Industrial Park Rd., Benton, IL 62812
West City Police Department
201 S. Browning St., Benton, IL 62812
West Frankfort Police Department
201 E. Nolen St., West Frankfort, IL 62896
Saline County
Eldorado Police Department
921 Veterans Dr., Eldorado, IL 62930
Harrisburg Police Department / Saline County Sheriff Department
1 North Main St., Harrisburg, IL 62946
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception.
Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
About Community Prevention Resources
Community Prevention Resources (CPR) is a comprehensive grant program that provides substance use prevention services to communities in Franklin and Saline Counties. CPR is funded in whole or part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Regional Office of Education #21 serves as the administrative agent for the program. For more information about the Community Prevention Resources program, please visit whoiscpr.com.
About Regional Office of Education 21
The Regional Office of Education #21 is a service organization whose responsibilities are defined by Illinois School Code. The Regional Superintendent serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Regional Office, providing essential support to local school districts in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education. In addition to coordinating and delivering state and local services, the Regional Superintendent acts as an advocate for education by providing positive leadership and disseminating information for educators, school districts, and the community. The office provides high-quality service and support to all educators, schools, and stakeholders while also helping community members, private schools, parents, children, business leaders, and others. For more information about the ROE #21, please visit roe21.org.