National Drug Take-Back Day April 30

Saturday, April 30, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and Montana’s Attorney General is urging all Montanans to dispose of unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs.

“National statistics show 53 percent of prescription painkiller abusers get their drugs from a friend or family member for free,” Attorney General Tim Fox said in an April 25 press release. “We need to resolve to never share our prescription drugs with others. One easy way to do that is to properly dispose of your prescription medication as soon as you are done taking it so it’s not available to anyone else. National Take-Back Day is a great opportunity for Montanans to safely, responsibly and conveniently get rid of any prescription drugs that may be overstaying their welcome in the medicine cabinet.”

More than 20 sites across the state of Montana will be accepting prescription pills and patches for disposal with no questions asked. In Lincoln County, the National Take-Back depository will be in the lobby of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office in the basement of the Lincoln County Courthouse from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Disposal is limited to prescription pills and patches, but illegal drugs, chemotherapy drugs, needles, sharps, oxygen containers and other pressurized canisters and radioactive substances will not be accepted.

During the 10 previous National Take-Back Day events, Fox said more than 5.5 million pounds of prescription drugs have been collected and destroyed.

“I want to commend and thank all the law enforcement agencies, community drug abuse prevention groups and volunteers who donate their time, energy and resources to making these take-back events happen,” Fox said. “Their efforts make it easier for people to properly dispose of their unused prescription drugs, and that makes our state safer for everyone.”