“These medications contain chemicals that don’t just disappear. They can have lasting effects on the environment.”
WAUSAU, Wis. – Aspirus Health is encouraging community members to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 26, a nationwide initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to provide a safe, responsible way to dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications.
Proper disposal of medications helps prevent drug misuse and environmental contamination. In the most recent Take Back Day, the DEA collected nearly 630,000 pounds of unused medications, bringing the total to 19.2 million pounds since the program began.
Why Safe Medication Disposal Matters
- Flushing medications is NOT a safe disposal method.
- Simply throwing medications in the trash also carries risks.
Where to Dispose of Medications Safely
Many pharmacies and health care facilities offer secure medication drop boxes for anonymous and safe disposal.
“Drop boxes accept a variety of medications, including prescription tablets, capsules, syrups, patches, prescription topicals, and even expired over-the-counter vitamins and supplements,” Thao said.
Aspirus Health provides drop boxes at Aspirus Wausau Hospital and Aspirus Medford Hospital. Additional drop-off locations can be found throughout the community and nationwide using the DEA’s National Take Back Locator.
Medication Disposal Guidelines
Before disposing of medications, remove personal information from packaging and follow local disposal guidelines.
Items NOT accepted in drug drop boxes:
- Needles & sharps
- Personal care products (lotions, cosmetics, etc.)
- Thermometers
Aspirus Health - Stevens Point Hospital & Clinics
-
Andrew Krauss Local Media Contact
- April 25, 2025
- 715-847-2780
- Send Email
