For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), on Tuesday, May 28, announced that Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2024 Drug Take Back.
Wisconsin collected the most unwanted medications throughout the country this spring, totaling 55,122 lbs.
“Because of Wisconsinites who safely disposed of their unwanted medications, Wisconsin’s remarkable success with the Drug Take Back program has continued,” said AG Kaul. “Thanks to everyone who helped make the safe disposal of more than 55,000 more pounds of unused medication possible.”
Wisconsin has collected a total of 1,257,161 lbs. of unwanted medications since Drug Take Back began in 2010 under the leadership of the DEA, according to DOJ. Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for the most medications collected since inception, falling only behind Texas with 1,424,295 lbs. and California with 1,404,998 lbs. collected.
Nationwide, since inception, 18,570,487 lbs. of unwanted medications have been collected during Drug Take Back events.
The DEA leads two Drug Take Back days a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. DOJ partners with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to organize and promote Drug Take Back throughout Wisconsin.
“Drug Take Back 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,” DOJ stated.
In Lincoln County, drug disposal boxes can be found at the Tomahawk and Merrill police departments, Tomahawk Pharmacy and the Marshfield Clinic Health System-Merrill Center.
Visit www.bit.ly/3Mcxh8q for a full list of permanent drug disposal box locations.