Warm weather is right around the corner and that means it’s time to Spring clean closets, cars, and garages. Don’t forget to also sweep the medicine cabinet for prescriptions that are unused, expired, or unwanted. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office provides residents with a venue to properly dispose of those prescriptions, with no questions asked, through Operation Medicine Cabinet program. Use one of the 36 drop-off locations around the county to dispose of medication in your home this spring, and year round, with some locations open 24/7.

Use our Operation Medicine Cabinet page and interactive map to find a drop-off location for expired or unused prescriptions in your home.

Disposing of unused or expired prescriptions isn’t only good for keeping the medicine cabinet clear, but it also keeps loved ones safe. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 60,000 young children are taken to the emergency room every year due to medicine accidentally being ingested, and more than 700,000 cases are reported of adverse drug events from prescription abuse. Use these tips from the CDC to keep medicine out of the wrong hands and prevent prescription drug abuse:

1. Pick a place your children cannot reach. Put medicines up and away after each use, do not leave them on tables or counters.
2. Make sure the cap is on securely, and teach children about medication safety to prevent abuse.
3. Always remind visiting guests to keep medicines out of reach, especially if they are kept in bags, purses or coats.
4. Prevent prescription drug abuse by monitoring prescribed medications for children and teenagers, and keeping accurate counts of medication.
5. Do not take more than the prescribed amount, or larger and more frequent doses, to try and achieve faster results.
6. Do not sell or share prescription drugs. Keep all prescription drugs and dispose of them appropriately if they are no longer needed at one of the 34 drop-off locations in Oakland County.
7. Be prepared in case of an emergency. Program the Poison Help number into a cell phone, or keep it close at home, (800) 222-1222.

If you think that a loved one may be abusing prescription drugs, visit the Oakland County Substance Abuse page for more information on ways to get help. To download a prescription drug abuse prevention toolkit, please click here.

Visit the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office website for more information about Operation Medicine Cabinet, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for additional news, events and programs.

Visit Oakland County Health Division’s website for more information on Drug Abuse Preventions, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for Public Health news and information.

For more on Oakland County news and events, visit our website and follow along with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest using #OaklandCounty.