Get Rid of Unwanted Medication at Drug Take Back Day in Kent County
Don't flush those pills! It's Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. Local hospitals are teaming up with the Kent County Health Department to offer residents a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs.
Drug Take Back Day in Kent County
Corewell Health Priority Health, and the Kent County Health Department are collecting unused and unwanted medications 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the following locations:
- Corewell Health Care Center - Cutlerville, 80 68th St. SE, Grand Rapids
- Priority Health, 3111 Leonard St. NE, Grand Rapids
- Kent County Health Department, 700 Fuller Ave. NE, Grand Rapids
- Corewell Health Zeeland Hospital, 8333 Felch St., Zeeland
- Corewell Health Greenville Hospital Family Medicine, 1202 W. Oak St., Greenville
Drug Take Back day is free and anonymous.
It's part of the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which aims to give the public a safe and anonymous way to dispose of prescription drugs so they don't make their way into the wrong hands.
The Grand Rapids Police Department and Kent County Sheriff's Office will oversee the collection sites and ensure the drugs are disposed of appropriately.
Why You Shouldn't Throw Away or Flush Prescription Drugs
The Department of Environment Quality does not recommend flushing medications as they can pollute our water and harm animals and people:
When flushed or thrown-out, these drugs end up in our coastal ecosystems; and all the chemicals in those little pills that were once working together to make us feel better, are now dissolving in our waterways where they can negatively impact aquatic animals
Tossing drugs in the trash could also lead to the medication finding its way into out water systems, and it could create an opportunity for illegal use or accidental poisoning.
If you're not able to make Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, you can find additional drop off-sites here.
