City of Bismarck Staff to Host Drug Take Back Event

Staff from Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health and the Bismarck Police Department will host a Take Back Event from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at the AgeWell Center, formerly known as the Burleigh County Senior Center, 315 N. 20th St., Bismarck, N.D.

This Take Back Event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the potential for medication misuse and abuse. The event allows area residents to properly dispose of unused or unwanted over-the-counter and prescription medications, helping to prevent drug diversion and misuse, as well as protecting the environment.

"Prescription opioid abuse and overdose is a growing concern in North Dakota," said Susan Kahler, substance abuse prevention coordinator at Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health. "Unused medications are a public health and safety concern. The Take Back program offers residents an easy, convenient way to dispose of medications-keeping them out of the wrong hands and helping protect the environment."

The following items will be accepted at the Take Back event:

• Unused or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, including:
  • Pills, tablets and caplets (remove from packaging)
  • Inhalers, nebulizer solutions, liquids and creams (leave in original containers)
  • Controlled substances
  • Pain relievers such as Vicodin, hydrocodone, Demerol, OxyContin, fentanyl and others
  • Antidepressants such as Valium, Zoloft, Prozac and others
  • Sleep aids such as Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata and others

The following items will not be accepted:

• Sharps (syringes, lancets), thermometers, glass, home-based care (HBC) or durable medical equipment (DME) supplies, and pharmacy inventory.
  Residents are encouraged to ask their pharmacists where to safely dispose of these items.
• Cancer medications

"Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the community," said Bismarck Police Officer Caity Horne. "Access is a key risk factor for abuse and addiction of prescription opioids. The fewer unused or expired medications available, the fewer drugs there are to be misused-and the fewer people at risk for abuse, addiction, overdose or even death."

The Take Back program was launched in December 2009. Today, North Dakota offers two free programs for residents to safely dispose of unwanted medications: the Take Back program at participating law enforcement agencies and the MedSafe program at participating pharmacies. North Dakota is the only state in the nation to operate free, year-round, statewide prescription drug disposal programs at both local law enforcement agencies and pharmacies. To view a list of all permanent Take Back locations in North Dakota, visit: https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/take-back-program/take-back-program-locations.

This Take Back event is a prevention strategy implemented through the State Opioid Res Grant and the Burleigh-Morton Behavioral Health Coalition's Prevention/Education Subcommittee.