The Farmington Hills Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), collected 279 pounds of unwanted and expired prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 24.

The event provided residents with a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of medications that could otherwise be misused, accidentally ingested, or improperly discarded.

"Community participation in Drug Take-Back Day helps reduce the risk of prescription medications falling into the wrong hands while also protecting our environment," said Captain Domenic Lauria. "We appreciate everyone who took the time to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unwanted medications."

The 279 pounds collected during the October event exceeded the amount collected during the department's spring Take-Back Day event, when more than 235 pounds of prescription medications were safely collected and destroyed.

Unused and expired medications can pose significant public health and safety risks. According to the National Safety Council, 70 percent of teens who abuse prescription painkillers obtain them from friends or relatives. Drug Take-Back Day provides communities with a safe way to prevent medications from being misused or diverted.

The Farmington Hills Police Department participates in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day twice annually, in partnership with the DEA. Since the national program began in 2010, more than 21 million pounds of medications have been safely collected and destroyed nationwide.

Residents who missed the Oct. 24 event can still safely dispose of unwanted prescription medications year-round. The Farmington Hills Police Department maintains a secure medication drop box available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the lobby of Police Headquarters, located at 31655 W. Eleven Mile Road.

For more information, call the Investigative Division at 248‑871‑2770 or visit the DEA’s Take Back Day webpage at Take Back Day (dea.gov).

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