NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 15, 2025
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Maggie Myers, St. Louis County Public Health Educator
218-471-7385 or myersm@stlouiscountymn.gov
Ali Bachinski, Carlton County Public Health Educator
218-481-4287 or ali.bachinski@carltoncountymn.gov
Ryan Ihrke, Resource Renew Environmental Program Coordinator
218-740-4888 or ryan.ihrke@wlssd.com
Prescription drug turn-in events set for end of April
Saturday, April 26, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, an opportunity for people to safely dispose of unused or expired medications. St. Louis County; Carlton County; and Resource Renew, the brand of Western Lake Superior Sanitary District are all coordinating take-back events to make it as easy as possible for people to find a drop off location near them.
The following locations will be staffed on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - Virginia
- St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - Hibbing
- St. Louis County Sheriff's Office - Ely
- Walmart parking lot in Cloquet
- Carlton County Sheriff's Office - Moose Lake
- Thomson Township Town Hall
Resource Renew in Duluth will also host an event that day, but with expanded hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Addresses for these locations, as well as other take-back sites outside of these two counties that are participating on April 26 can be found online at dea.gov/takebackday. Medications to be disposed of should be brought in in their original containers with any personal identifying information crossed off.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day takes place twice a year to highlight the importance of getting rid of medications that are no longer needed. Proper disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications in a local drop box helps prevent accidental poisoning, reduces the possibility of medication misuse, and prevents water pollution and other environmental threats.
Meanwhile, numerous law enforcement agencies and pharmacies in St. Louis County offer secure disposal boxes where medications can be disposed of anonymously year-round. A list of locations, along with information about what is or isn't accepted, is available online at stlouiscountymn.gov/medwaste. In Carlton County, disposal boxes are available in the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office at the Justice Center, and the Cloquet Police Department.
While take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs, transportation and access issues may make it difficult for some people to discard medications. Anyone who is unable to access a local drop box can contact Maggie Myers at 218-471-7385 or myersm@stlouiscountymn.gov for information about alternative disposal methods, such as a free medication mail-back envelope or a DisposeRx kit.
###
|
