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(ST. JOSEPH) - Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan, in partnership with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, is providing community members with the opportunity to dispose of unused and unwanted prescription drugs during a Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event. The spring collection of expired, unused, and unwanted medications will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 22.

Corewell Health and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department will host free drop-off service at the hospital at 1234 Napier Ave. in St. Joseph and at Lakeland Medical Suites in Niles, 42 N. St. Joseph Ave., across the street from the hospital. Pills will be accepted in their original containers or in a zip-lock bag. Free opioid overdose Narcan (Naloxone) rescue kits will be available for attendees.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department will oversee the collection site and ensure the drugs are disposed of in an appropriate manner. The DEA advises the public not to flush medications down the toilet or throw them in the trash because doing so poses potential safety and health hazards.

“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands,” said Michelle Brow, manager quality improvement, Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan. “By providing a safe, convenient, and confidential means of disposing of prescription drugs, we are ultimately making our community a safer place to live.”

Last year, during the spring and fall take-back days, the Corewell Health sites in Southwest Michigan collected 59 pounds of medications. Nationwide, nearly 1.37 million pounds of drugs were collected at registered sites last year.