Prescription Drug Disposal Program

The Lemont Police Department provides a safe and easy disposal for unused and expired prescription drugs. We ask that you place the unused or expired pills in a zip lock bag provided next to the depository or place them in a zip lock freezer bag and place the bag in the Drug Depository located in the lobby of the police Department during normal business hours.

The Lemont Police Department does not accept the following:

• Liquids
• Syringes
• Inhalants

Pills must be placed in a zip-lock bag and sealed. (We do not take the medicine bottles.)

Unwanted Prescription Depository

Each year, millions of Americans resolve to clean out their medicine cabinets. Studies have shown that keeping unused medications can increase the chances of taking the wrong drug and old medications can lose their potency over time.

Disposing of Prescription Drugs

In the past, the advice has been to flush old and unused medications down the toilet or put them in the trash. Neither is a good method. Prescriptions drugs can kill helpful bacteria in septic systems and pass largely untouched through sewage treatment plants. Unfortunately, scientists are finding traces of prescription medications in our streams, rivers and lakes. Furthermore, children and animals can get into drugs discarded in the trash and once in landfills, drugs can trickle into the groundwater.

Prescription Medication Abuse

Prescription medication abuse among teens and young adults is a serious and increasing problem in the U.S. The Partnership for a Drug Free America’s annual tracking study recently found:

• 1 in 5 teens has abused a prescription pain medication
• 1 in 5 teens report abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers
• 1 in 10 teens has abused cough medication

Many teens think these drugs are safe because they have legitimate uses. However, taking them without a prescription to get high or “self medicate” can be dangerous and as addicting as using street narcotics and other illicit drugs.

Commonly Abused Medication

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health identifies 4 types of pain medication that are commonly abused:

• Pain relievers
• Sedatives
• Stimulants
• Tranquilizers

A total of 11% of teens (ages 12 to 17) reported lifetime non-medical use of pain relievers and 4% reported lifetime non-medical use of stimulants.

Prescription Drug Disposal Program

Lastly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations prohibit the recycling of prescription medications and there are few sites to properly dispose of these unwanted medications. In response to this, the Lemont Police Department has launched a Prescription Drug Disposal Program. The purpose of this program will be to collect old, unwanted and discarded prescription medications and properly dispose of them through an approved EPA site.

The Lemont Police Department will dispose of unused medications on a monthly basis. These medications will be transported to an approved EPA location for proper disposal.

Contact

If you accidentally repeat or misuse your medicine, call your pharmacist or the Illinois Poison Control Center: 800-222-1222.

For more information please contact Officer Ralph Menzione at 630-257-2229 ext. 2478 or by email.