News Releases

Spectrum Health collaborating on several drop-off sites

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 23, 2019 – Saturday, October 26, is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and Spectrum Health is joining thousands of organizations nationwide by hosting sites to safely dispose of expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs.

Community members are invited to stop by to dispose of expired prescriptions and other unwanted or unneeded medications. This free and anonymous public service is part of the 18th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

“The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths through a disposal system that does not harm the environment,” said Ken Fawcett, MD, vice president, Spectrum Health Healthier Communities. “It also presents an opportunity to learn more about addiction and how to treat the disease.”

Experts with materials about drug addiction will be on hand at the Spectrum Health Healthier Communities location in the Widdicomb Building to talk to families.

For anonymous online help, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service (SAMHSA) Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator (a confidential and anonymous source of information for persons seeking treatment facilities in the United States or U.S. Territories) is available to help find resources in your area. (https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/ )

Spectrum Health Addiction Medicine programs provide treatments to overcome the complications of addiction through physician and self-referral, to help patients toward recovery and self-empowerment.

Since the first National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in 2010, partners throughout the nation have collected 11,816,393 lbs. of unwanted, unused and expired drugs – nearly 6,000 tons. During the most recent Take Back Day in April 2019, 6,258 collection sites took in nearly 469 tons of medications. In Michigan alone, 23,692 pounds were collected.

Please join in this nationwide endeavor this Saturday, October 26. These Spectrum Health sites will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.:

• Grand Rapids: Spectrum Health Healthier Communities
  Widdicomb Building
  665 Seward Avenue NW
• Ludington: Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital
  1 N. Atkinson Dr.
• St. Joseph: Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services
  3900 Hollywood Rd.
• Watervliet: Lakeland Hospital Watervliet
  400 Mercy Park Dr.
• Wyoming: Spectrum Health West Pavilion
  6105 Wilson Ave SW
• Zeeland: Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital
  8333 Felch St.

This is national and community-wide event, so if you can’t make it to the Spectrum Health sites, there are numerous other drop-off locations throughout the community (see link below).

If you can’t make it on Oct. 26, drop off unwanted medications for safe disposal at:

• Participating local pharmacies
• Participating law enforcement drop-boxes
• Other drop-off locations: Michigan.gov/deqdrugdisposal