As a follow-up to the recent Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the DeKalb Police Department is pleased to announce that we collected 118 pounds of medication at the Drug Take-Back Event held on Saturday, October 27th.
Additionally,through the use of our drug collection drop-box in the lobby of our police department, we have taken in an additional 121 pounds during the last 6 months. That is a total of 239 pounds of medication collected by the DeKalb Police Department since May of 2018.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that
languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that most abused prescription drugs are obtained or stolen from family and friends, including from the home medicine
cabinet.
In addition, residents are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicine (flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash) both pose potential safety and health hazards.
If you have unwanted medications to dispose of, please feel free to utilize our drop box inside the DeKalb Police Department lobby at 700 W. Lincoln Highway. If you have any questions about the ongoing collection program or have a large quantity of medications to drop off call Community Relations Officer, Kelly Sullivan, at (815) 748-8446 to make
arrangements.
Please be advised, we cannot accept liquid medications or syringes/sharps.
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