(UNDATED) Unused prescription drugs can be easy to forget — but they can also be easy to misuse if they stay in the wrong place.
National Drug Take Back Day is set for Saturday, April 25, with collection sites across Wisconsin where people can safely drop off unwanted or expired medications. The effort is aimed at keeping prescriptions out of the wrong hands and reducing the risk of addiction.
In Dodge County, several local agencies will serve as drop-off sites, including the Beaver Dam Police Department, Columbus Police Department, Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, Fox Lake Police Department, Horicon Police Department, Juneau Police Department, and Theresa Police Department.
The statewide push comes as prescription drugs remain widely used. More than 2.1 million monitored prescriptions were dispensed in Wisconsin in just the first three months of this year, according to state data.
“Drug Take Back Day is about prevention,” Attorney General Josh Kaul said. “Please help with the fight against addiction by disposing of your unused and unwanted medications.”
Health officials say clearing out old medications is a simple step that can help prevent misuse, overdoses, and accidental poisonings.
Wisconsin has seen some progress in recent years. Opioid overdose deaths dropped 42.5% from 2023 to 2024, according to the Department of Health Services. Even so, the crisis continues to affect people across the state.
Officials credit part of that progress to the state’s Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which tracks controlled substances and helps doctors, pharmacists, and law enforcement identify potential misuse. Since the program launched in 2017, opioid dispensing has dropped nearly 40%.
“The ePDMP has been a major success in reducing the dispensing of opioids in Wisconsin,” said Dan Hereth, secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
On Saturday, people can bring prescription and over-the-counter medications, along with items like creams, inhalers, and pet medications. Vape devices are also accepted if batteries are removed.
Items such as illegal drugs, needles, and household hazardous waste will not be accepted.
Officials also stress that medications should not be flushed or poured down the drain, since wastewater systems cannot fully remove pharmaceuticals and traces can end up in lakes and rivers.
A full list of collection sites is available through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website. Click HERE to visit the site.
