On Saturday, April 30, Michigan residents in 13 counties have a chance to get opioids and other unused and expired prescription medications out of their medicine cabinets through 29 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 old or unneeded medicines without having to leave their vehicles. A full list of locations is below.

The statewide effort is made possible by partnerships among the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), healthcare organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations.

“Our events are community-based, providing a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused medications, and thereby removing the risks associated with opioids from our communities, '' said Chad Brummett, M.D., co-director of Michigan OPEN and a pain care specialist and researcher at Michigan Medicine.  “This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic which has seen a rise in opioid use disorder and opioid-related mortalities.”

Nationally, opioid overdoses accounted for more than 75,670 deaths in the year that ended April 2021, up from about 56,000 the year before, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prescription opioids were involved in 28% of opioid overdose deaths in 2019.

Research shows that most people do not dispose of their unused medications, including opioids that may be left over from operations or dental procedures. This increases the potential for the drugs to be diverted for non-medical use. Improper disposal, for instance down a toilet, can pollute waterways.

A recent University of Michigan study found that approximately 70% of the opioids prescribed  for surgical pain never get used, making them vulnerable to diversion and misuse. Michigan OPEN’s efforts with take back events have led to more than 21,381 pounds of unused medications and over 410,000 opioids 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. Other locations, including law enforcement agencies, may also be taking medications back at events on April 30, and at permanent secure drop-off boxes year-round. Michigan OPEN has created a map to help members of the public find a permanent disposal location in their area..

Medication Take-Back Locations:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30 

Alpena County

• Alpena: Alpena Public Safety Facility, 501 W. Chisholm Street

Berrien County

• St. Joseph: Spectrum Health Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services, 3900 Hollywood Road

Genesee County

• Flint: Hasselbring Senior Center, 1002 W. Home Ave

Kent County

• Grand Rapids: SHMG South Pavilion, 80 68th Street SE
• Grand Rapids: Spectrum Health Healthier Communities, 665 Seward Ave NW
• Grand Rapids: Priority Health Main Campus, 3111 Leonard Street NE
• Wyoming: University of Michigan - West, Professional Building, 2122 Health Drive SW 

Luce County

• Newberry: Helen Newberry Joy Clinic, 502 W Harrie Street

Mackinac County

• Cedarville: Clark Township Hall, 133 E, M-134

Macomb County

• Sterling Heights: Beaumont Medical Park, 44300 Dequindre Road

Mason County

• Ludington: Mason County Fairgrounds, 5302 US-10

Monroe County

• Milan: York Township Hall, 11560 Stony Creek Road
• Monroe: ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital, 718 N. Macomb Street

Oakland County

• Commerce Township: Commerce Fire Station, 9170 Commerce Road
• Royal Oak: Beaumont Hospital, 3601 W 13 Mile Road
• South Lyon: South Lyon Police Department, 219 Whipple Street
• Walled Lake: Walled Lake Police Department, 1499 W. Maple Road
• Wixom: Wixom Police Department, 49045 Pontiac Trail

Ottawa County

• Zeeland: Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital, 8333 Felch Street

Washtenaw County

• Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor Township Hall/Fire Dept., 3792 Pontiac Trail
• Ann Arbor: Scio Township Fire Station, 1055 N. Zeeb Road
• Ann Arbor: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School, 2250 E Stadium Blvd.
• Ypsilanti: West Willow Community Resource Center, 2057 Tyler Road

Wayne County

• Dearborn: Beaumont Hospital, 18101 Oakwood Blvd
• Detroit: Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, 18700 James Couzens Hwy
• Grosse Pointe: Beaumont Hospital, 468 Cadieux Road
• 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 to develop a preventive approach to the opioid epidemic in the state of Michigan by tailoring postoperative and acute care opioid prescribing.