DOJ: Wisconsin ranks first in U.S. during spring Drug Take Back Day

For the Tomahawk Leader

WISCONSIN – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), on Wednesday, May 17, announced that Wisconsin ranked number one throughout the country for the most prescription medications collected during the spring 2023 Drug Take Back Day.

Wisconsin collected 55,472 lbs. of unwanted medications this spring, according to DOJ.

DOJ said Wisconsin has collected a total of 1,148,917 lbs. of unwanted medications since Drug Take Back began in 2010 under the leadership of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Wisconsin ranks third in the nation for the most medications collected since inception, behind California with 1,344,373 lbs. and Texas with 1,338,115 lbs. collected.

Nationwide, since inception, 17, 300,454 lbs. of unwanted medications have been collected during Drug Take Back events, according to DOJ.

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.

“Wisconsin’s Drug Take Back once again led the nation thanks to the hard work and collaboration of many partners and, of course, the many Wisconsinites who participated by safely disposing of their unused and unneeded medications,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to everyone who helped make this effort such a success.”

“While Drug Take Back Day technically only happens twice a year, any day can be Drug Take Back Day at one of Wisconsin’s more than 490 permanent drug disposal boxes,” DOJ stated. “These boxes are accessible year-round at law enforcement agencies, hospitals, pharmacies and health clinics.”

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.