On Saturday, Oct 23, Michigan residents in 16 counties have a chance to get opioids and other unused and expired prescription medications out of their medicine cabinets through 36 simultaneous events held around the state. The events will run from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., with many locations offering drive-up options where participants can safely dispose of medications without having to leave their vehicles.
The statewide effort is made possible by local partnerships with Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN) and healthcare organizations, law enforcement, and community organizations.
“Our events are community-based, providing a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused medications thereby removing the risks associated with opioids from our communities, said Chad Brummett, M.D., a Michigan Medicine pain specialist and co-director of Michigan OPEN. “This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic which has seen a rise in opioid use disorder and opioid-related mortalities.”
Overdose deaths soared to a record 93,000 last year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to this article from the Associated Press.
Research shows that most people do not dispose of their unused medications, increasing the potential that they are misused or diverted into the community. Disposal through toilets or garbage can pollute waterways.
A recent study found that approximately 70% of the opioids prescribed for surgery go unused, making them vulnerable to diversion and misuse. Michigan OPEN’s efforts with take back events have led to more than 19,358 pounds of unused medications and over 375,500 opioid pills being collected and properly disposed of.
Take back events provide a safe process for disposing of unused medications while protecting our communities, children, and environment.
If there isn’t a take back event near you, please visit Michigan OPEN's map or the Google locator map to find a permanent disposal location offering everyday disposal options.
Fall 2021 Take-Back Locations
Alpena County
- Alpena: Alpena Public Safety Facility, 501 River Street
Bay County
- Bay City: Bay County Sheriff’s Office, 503 3rd Street
Berrien County
- St. Joseph: Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services, 3900 Hollywood Road
Genesee County
- Flint: Hasselbring Senior Center, 1002 W. Homes Ave
Ionia County
- Lake Odessa: Lake Odessa Police Department, 839 4th Ave
- Portland: Portland Police Department, 773 E. Grand River Ave
Kent County
- Grand Rapids: SHMG South Pavilion, 80 60th Street
- Grand Rapids: Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, 665 Seward Ave NW
- Grand Rapids: Priority Health Main Campus, 3111 Leonard Street NE
Livingston County
- Pinckney: Pinckney Town Square Park, E Main Street
- South Lyon: South Lyon Police Station, 219 Whipple Street
Luce County
- Newberry: The LINK, 103 West Helen Street
Mackinac County
- Engadine: Garfield Township Hall, N6760 Michigan 117
Macob County
- St. Clair Shores: Lakeview Administration Building, 27575 Harper
Mason County
- Ludington: Mason County Fairgrounds, E. Ludington Ave
Newaygo County
- Fremont: Tamarac Wellness Center, 1401 West Main Street
- Newaygo: Hometown Pharmacy, 226 West River Valley Drive
Oakland County
- Commerce Township: Commerce Township Fire Station, 9170 Commerce Road
- Walled Lake: Walled Lake Police Department, 1499 E. Maple Road
- Wixom: Wixom Police Department, 49045 Pontiac Trail
Ottawa County
- Holland: Holland Hospital, 602 Michigan Ave.
- Zeeland: Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital
Washtenaw County
- Ann Arbor: St. Joseph’s Hospital, 5301 McAuley Drive
- Dexter: American Legion Hall, Dexter-Chelsea Road
- Manchester: Manchester Police, 275 S Macomb St
- Ypsilanti: West Willow Community Resource Center, 2057 Tyler Road
Wayne County
- Dearborn: Beaumont Hospital, 18101 Oakwood Blvd
- Farmington Hills: Beaumont Hospital, 28050 Grand River Ave
- Grosse Pointe: Beaumont Hospital, 468 Cadieux Road
- Royal Oak: Beaumont Hospital, 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd.
- Sterling Heights: Beaumont Hospital, 44344 Dequindre Rd Ste 140
- Taylor: Beaumont Hospital, 10000 Telegraph Rd.
- Trenton: Beaumont Hospital, 5450 Fort Street
- Wayne: Beaumont Hospital, 33155 Annapolis St.
About Michigan OPEN:
The Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN) launched in October 2016 with support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) Value Partnerships, and the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI) at the University of Michigan. Michigan OPEN was founded in an effort to develop a preventive approach to the opioid epidemic in the state of Michigan by tailoring postoperative and acute care opioid prescribing.