Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. Teenagers abusing prescription drugs often get them from family and friends—and the home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
Take it to the Box, a medication disposal program in McLeod County, was developed by MEADA (McLeod Education and Drug Awareness), local law enforcement, and funding from McLeod County Solid Waste, a Drug Free Communities grant and a grant from the United Way.
Three drop boxes in are available for McLeod county residents to properly dispose of unused or expired over-the-counter and prescribed medications.
How to Dispose of Medicine:
- Leave it in its original container, with the name of the medication visible. Cross off any personal information.
- There is no cost to drop off medication.
- Take the medicine to one of three drop boxes in McLeod county list below that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Do NOT put sharps or needles in the drop box.
Drop Box Locations:
McLeod County Sheriff’s Office
801 East 10th Street
Glencoe, MN 55336
Map
Available 24/7
Hutchinson Police Department
214 1st Avenue Northeast
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Map
Available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Winsted Police Department
201 1st Street North
Winsted, MN 55395
Map
Available 24/7
Medicine or candy? Tips to protect children in your home:
- Store out of reach, preferably in a locked cabinet.
- Dispense or sort medications over a bowl or plate to catch any that may fall or roll away if dropped.
- Take inventory. Know what you have and how much.
- Properly dispose of unused or expired medications at a Take it to the Box location.
- Child resistant caps are not “child proof”. Experiments have found that kids as young as 4 figure these caps out quickly.
Questions?
Email: [email protected]
Call: 320-864-1257
