Safely Dispose of Prescription Drugs

Every day, more than 130 Americans die after overdosing on opioids. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high with nearly 20 million people using prescription drugs for a non-medical purpose in the last year. Non-medical users of prescription drugs often obtain their pills from family and friends, a phenomenon known as diversion. Keeping unused, excess prescription pain medications in the home leaves households vulnerable to misuse, accidents and diversion, or the non-medical use of legally prescribed medications.

Northwestern Medicine is coming together with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to host collection sites for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24. National Prescription Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused opioids and other prescription medications, while also educating the general public about the potential for misuse of medications.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24, community members can safely dispose of their unused medications at Northwestern Medicine drive-thru sites:

Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care St. Charles
2900 Foxfield Road, Suite 100, St. Charles
(on the east side of the parking lot by Kirk Road

Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital
1302 North Main Street, Sandwich

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital
Medical Records Building
2731 Sycamore Road, Dekalb
(one driveway south of main hospital)

Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital
250 East Superior Street, Chicago

Event staff will wear masks and follow physical distancing protocols. Please wear a mask in your vehicle when interacting with event staff.

Sharps and liquids will not be accepted, and Take Back Day is for community members, not for commercial organizations.

At Northwestern Medicine, efforts have been made to reduce the number of opioids providers prescribe, while also offering safe disposal options for patients, particularly after surgeries. Several Northwestern Medicine hospitals have permanent kiosks for year-round drug disposal:

Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital
Emergency Department entrance
300 Randall Road, Geneva

Northwestern Memorial Hospita;
Lavin Family Pavilion, 14th Floor
Pain Clinic, left of patient elevator
259 East Erie Street, Chicago
Available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Walgreens, second floor pharmacy area
201 East Huron Street
Suite 1-210, Chicago
Available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday through Monday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Find information about safe medication storage and disposal at nm.org/safemeddisposal.

National Prescription Take Back Day is offered at locations across the country to give communities a chance to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. The disposal events are free and no questions asked.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or to find additional Take Back Day events, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.