State Police Provide Safe Option for Medication Disposal
Drug collection receptacles are available at five state police headquarters across the state.
Five Illinois State Police District headquarters across the state are providing receptacles for people to drop off their unused and unwanted prescription medications. The headquarters are in:
- Des Plaines
- Elgin
- Joliet
- Collinsville
- LaSalle
The receptacles are available through a partnership between the Illinois State Police (ISP) and Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation to help decrease prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse.
“Many people experiment with prescription drugs before turning to more dangerous, illegal drugs,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said. “These receptacles offer people a smart and safe way to get potentially addictive drugs out of their homes and off the streets.”
Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation provided the receptacles for initiative. The foundation was created by David and Gail Katz, whose son died in 2007 from an overdose of prescription medication.
“Each day, about 2,500 teens use prescription drugs for non-medical use for the first time. Prescription pills are now killing more of our youth than cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined,” David Katz said. “Save A Star is pleased to partner with the Illinois State Police to help avoid future tragedies.”
People will be able to drop over-the-counter and prescription medications into the receptacles, including controlled substances, pet medications, drug samples, vitamins, liquids and creams. For safety reasons, the following items CANNOT be accepted and should NOT be deposited into the receptacles:
- Needles
- Thermometers
- IV Bags
- Bloody waste
- Hydrogen peroxide
“Prescription drug abuse is a real issue and unfortunately, it’s all too often the gateway to opioid drug addiction.” ISP Director Leo P. Schmitz said. “These receptacles will help us keep drugs out of the wrong hands and will reduce the odds for accidental overdoses and future drug dependency.”
The initiative is part of the state’s effort to reduce opioid-related deaths in Illinois by 33 percent in three years. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use disorder, call Illinois’ Opioid Helpline at 1-833-2FINDHELP.