Wisconsin first in collection for Drug Take Back Day

MADISON, Wis. (WKBT) — Wisconsin collected nearly 90,000 pounds of medications during the Oct. 24 Drug Take Back Day, Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Monday.

Wisconsin had the largest collection in the U.S. with 89,982 pounds during the event aimed at getting drugs off the streets and fighting substance-use disorder.

“Thank you to the many Wisconsinites who safely disposed of unused and unwanted medications, making Wisconsin’s Drug Take Back the most successful in the nation. Your efforts help with the fight against substance-use disorder by ensuring that those unused medications won’t be diverted,” said Kaul.

Statewide 230 law enforcement agencies hosted Drug Take Back events and collected disposed drugs from 485 permanent drug disposal boxes at law enforcement agencies across the state. These permanent drug disposal boxes are accessible year-round.

Drug Take Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the community about the potential abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal of these medications.

Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them, and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes.

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