Kentwood Prescription Drug Take Back Event

Kentwood National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 26. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)

The Kentwood Police Department is encouraging community members to take part in its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, April 26.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE.

Police Department staff will collect tablets, capsules and other solid forms of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They also will accept vaping devices and cartridges as long as lithium batteries are removed.

Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted at the event. For these items, community members can utilize the Kent County Health Department’s SafeSharps program, which collects syringes and sharps at the South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE. Sharps are medical devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin.

“The Kentwood Police Department is committed to proactively reducing prescription drug misuse, overdoses and accidental poisonings by encouraging community members to turn in unused and unneeded medication,” said Kentwood acting Chief of Police Stephanie Morningstar. “Our Drug Take Back Day events offer a free, safe and anonymous way for community members to dispose of medications.”

KPD and other law enforcement agencies across the nation partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration to host Drug Take Back Day events every October and April as part of ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths.

For community members unable to attend KPD’s event, the department offers a year-round drug take back program for the safe disposal of unused or expired prescription medications. This free, anonymous service is available in KPD’s lobby from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

To learn more about KPD’s drug take back program, visit kentwood.us/DrugTakeBack.

A previous Kentwood Police Department Prescription Drug Take Back Event. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)

By WKTV Staff

greer@wktv.org

The Kentwood Police Department is encouraging community members to take part in its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, Oct. 26.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE. Police Department staff will collect tablets, capsules and other solid forms of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They also will accept vaping devices and cartridges as long as lithium batteries are removed.

Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted at the event. For these items, community members can utilize the Kent County Health Department’s SafeSharp program, which collects syringes and sharps at the South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

“The Kentwood Police Department’s Drug Take Back Day event provides community members with a safe and anonymous way to properly dispose of a variety of medications,” Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin said. “By removing expired or unused medications from our community, we are reducing prescription drug misuse, overdoses and accidental poisonings. This effort is part of our ongoing commitment to doing everything we can to help keep community members safe.”

To learn more about KPD’s drug take back program, visit kentwood.us/DrugTakeBack.