Central ND News

Staff from Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and the Bismarck Police Department are organizing a Take Back Event scheduled for Wednesday, May 28. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Burleigh County Senior Center, located at 315 N. 20th St., Bismarck, North Dakota.

The purpose of this event is to offer a secure and convenient method for disposing of prescription drugs while raising awareness about the risks of medication misuse and abuse. Area residents can safely dispose of unused or unwanted over-the-counter and prescription medications, which helps prevent drug diversion and misuse, as well as protects the environment.

"Prescription opioid abuse and overdose is a growing concern in North Dakota," stated Susan Kahler, substance abuse prevention coordinator at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health. "Unused medications are a public health and safety concern. The Take Back program offers residents an easy, convenient way to dispose of medications—keeping them out of the wrong hands and helping protect the environment."

Accepted items at the event include unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications such as pills, tablets, caplets (removed from packaging), inhalers, nebulizer solutions, liquids, creams (left in original containers), controlled substances, pain relievers like Vicodin and OxyContin, antidepressants like Zoloft and Prozac, as well as sleep aids like Ambien.

Items not accepted include sharps (syringes, lancets), thermometers, glass items, home-based care supplies or durable medical equipment supplies, pharmacy inventory items such as cancer medications. Residents are advised to consult their pharmacists on how to safely dispose of these items.

"Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the community," said Bismarck Police Officer Caity Horne. "Access is a key risk factor for abuse and addiction of prescription opioids. The fewer unused or expired medications available, the fewer drugs there are to be misused—and the fewer people at risk for abuse, addiction, overdose or even death."

The Take Back program began in December 2009. Currently in North Dakota two free programs exist for safe disposal: the Take Back program at participating law enforcement agencies and MedSafe program at pharmacies. North Dakota stands alone in offering free year-round statewide prescription drug disposal programs through both local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies.