Oakland County Launches Website to Address Growing Opioid Epidemic with Map for Safe Prescription Drug Disposal

Prescription drugs and prescription drug abuse are driving an epidemic of overdose deaths that include the boundaries of Oakland County. Prescription drugs account for nearly 60% of all deaths from drug overdose, and pain relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone are involved in 3 of every 4 prescription drug overdose fatalities.

Oakland County has developed a comprehensive partnership to create a coordinated, strategic action plan for reducing prescription drug abuse and overdoses in our county. The Oakland County Prescription Drug Abuse Partnership has a strong coalition of partners who have an active interest in preventing prescription overdose deaths. Members of the partnership gathered today, April 28, 2017, at the Oakland County North Oakland Health Center for a press conference launching the latest initiative combating the opioid epidemic.

Oakland County Prescription Drug Abuse Partnership members in attendance at the 4/28/17 Press Conference.

In honor of National Prescription Take Back Day, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and the Oakland County Prescription Drug Abuse Partnership launched a new website, www.OakGov.com/PrescriptionDrugs that hosts an interactive map identifying disposal programs locations throughout the county. The website will also host educational materials about how to monitor, dispose, and secure prescription medications to prevent prescription drug abuse. Continue reading

Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

Person grabbing medication out of a medicine cabinet.

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.

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It’s Easy! Dispose of your Unused, Unneeded or Expired Prescription Drugs Safely!

Medications on the Shelves of a Medicine Cabinet

Taking inventory of prescription drugs in your household on a regular basis can help keep your loved ones safe. Let Oakland County Sheriff’s Office help you safely dispose of your unneeded, unused and/or expired prescription drugs through their Operation Medicine Cabinet™ (OMC) program. Since 2009, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has been proud to sponsor the OMC program. It allows residents to drop off prescription drugs at any of their thirty-two convenient drop-off locations with “no questions asked.” Click HERE for a full list of all locations and hours. Continue reading