By NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health

Keeping unused prescription drugs in your house isn’t a good idea. In fact, it can be dangerous.

One big problem with keeping old bottles of prescription medication around is that the drugs could end up in the wrong hands — curious teens or even little kids, for example.

There are a couple of ways to get rid of old medication. On Saturday, Oct. 28, it’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. During this event, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), you can bring in any unwanted prescription medication to a disposal site near you.

NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health provides safe medication disposal kiosks inside Edward Hospital (South Lobby), Elmhurst Hospital (door 28 near ER entrance), the outpatient pharmacies at Evanston Hospital, Glenbrook Hospital, Highland Park Hospital, Skokie Hospital and Northwest Community Hospital.

Before you bring your medication to a site, check our list of dos and don’ts:

• Bring over-the-counter, unused, unwanted, expired controlled medications
• Cross off personal information on the label OR put pills in a plastic bag
• NO needles/syringes, EpiPen®, liquids, aerosols, inhalers, thermometers or illegal drugs
• NO radioactive medicines
• NO household chemical waste

Additionally, you can also dispose of unwanted prescription drugs yourself. The Food and Drug Administration suggests throwing drugs in the trash, including prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches, creams, and inhalers — provided you follow these steps:

• Take the drugs out of their original containers and mix them with something such as used coffee grounds, sawdust or cat litter. This makes it less appealing to children or pets and conceals it from someone who might go through the trash looking for drugs.
• Put the mixture in something you can close, such as a sealable plastic bag or a jar, to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out.
• Throw the bag or jar in the garbage.
• Scribble out your personal information on the empty medicine packaging to protect your identity, then throw it away.

If you’re struggling with addiction or are having trouble controlling your use of painkillers, NorthShore University HealthSystem's Doreen E. Chapman Center at Evanston Hospital can help. For more information, call 847-570-3100.

Additionally, Northwest Community Healthcare’s Addiction Medicine Clinic in Arlington Heights offers ongoing outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders. Call NCH’s Behavioral Health Services at 847-HEALING for a free risk assessment.