Above / A new program is introduced that will provide 11 new convenient locations for safe disposal of prescription medications.
UPDATE, Sept. 24, 2015 / Another Prespcription Drug Take-Back Day is slated for Sept. 26, 2015.
The City of Naperville has launched a new Prescription Drug Drop Box Program that allows the public to safely and anonymously dispose of unused prescription drugs at one of the City’s 10 fire stations on a 24-hour, seven days a week basis. An additional drop box is located inside the City’s Police Department and available during normal lobby hours.
Above / Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis, Naperville Police Chief Bob Marshall & Councilman Steve Chirico
“Statistics tell us that one of the main starting points for drug abuse is unused prescription drugs kept in a home,” Naperville Fire Chief Mark Puknaitis said. “These unused medications can also cause accidental drug overdoses in children. As we celebrate Earth Day today, we also recognize these medications can lead to groundwater contamination if flushed down a toilet. Instead of one drop box, Naperville is giving our residents 11 convenient locations where they can safely and anonymously get rid of these medicines, no questions asked, which helps make this process even easier.”
During remarks, Councilman Steve Chirico credited local attorney Sam Smith with presenting the idea for the RX drop boxes, noting how quickly Chief Puknaitis and members of the fire department recognized the merits such a program could have.
Above / Mayor George Pradel was first to demonstrate how to dispose of an old prescription in the exterior RX Drop Off Box.
Through the program, every Naperville fire station has a sealed drop box located outside of the building in which the public can place their unused/expired prescription or over-the-counter medication. The public cannot dispose of needles or other syringes through this program. Only prescription and over-the-counter medications will be collected. The drop boxes cannot accept larger sized prescription bottles; in those cases, the public should dispose of just the medication itself in the drop box.
Previously, residents could only dispose of this type of medication at the City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility on Saturdays and Sundays during limited hours. The HHW will continue to accept prescription drugs for safe disposal.
Naperville Fire Stations
- Fire Station No. 1: 964 E. Chicago Ave.
- Fire Station No. 2: 601 E. Bailey Rd.
- Fire Station No. 3: 1803 N. Washington St.
- Fire Station No. 4: 1971 Brookdale Rd.
- Fire Station No. 5: 2191 Plainfield-Naperville Rd.
- Fire Station No. 6: 2808 103rd St.
- Fire Station No.7: 1380 Aurora Ave.
- Fire Station No. 8: 1320 Modaff Rd.
- Fire Station No. 9: 1144 W. Ogden Ave.
- Fire Station No. 10: 3201 95th St.
Naperville Police Station
The Naperville Police Department also has launched a prescription drug take-back program that features one drug drop box in the Naperville Police Department lobby, 1350 Aurora Ave. Residents can bring prescription or over-the-counter medications anonymously to that location for safe disposal during normal lobby hours of 7AM to 8PM Monday through Friday. No needles, syringes or liquids will be accepted.
“One of the Police Department’s major initiatives has been to curb the abuse of drugs in the community, including prescription medications,” Police Chief Robert Marshall said. “These medications can act as gateway drugs to other forms of drug abuse. By also providing a convenient, anonymous way for these medications to be safely disposed, we reduce the risk of children or others obtaining these medications and potentially using them in an abusive manner.”
Prescription Drug ‘Take Back’ Day is April 26
Naperville’s Prescription Drug Drop Box Program is launching only days before National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for the abuse of medications. The Police Department will be participating in this initiative once again, and the public is invited to visit the front circle of the Police Department, 1350 Aurora Ave., on Saturday, April 26 and drop off their prescription medications between the hours of 10AM to 2PM in the box provided. No questions will be asked.
For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us.
To sign up for the City’s new notification system Naper Notify and receive important emergency and community information via a phone call, text message, email or smartphone app, visit www.napernotify.com.
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