GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Saturday, Oct. 26 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The idea behind the event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, is to remove unused medication from the home before misuse or substance use disorder can begin.
"It's an actual health crisis, it's not a moral crisis," said Ellen Waalkes with Priority Health. "As we talk about it more as a health crisis, then people seek treatment in the health care system."
Priority Health and Corewell Health are hosting a drug take back event Saturday. Expired, unwanted or unneeded prescription medications can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
There are three locations:
- Kent County Health Department — 700 Fuller Ave. NE in Grand Rapids
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals Care Center — Cutlerville, 80 68th St. in Grand Rapids
- Priority Health — 3111 Leonard St. NE in Grand Rapids
Nationally, drug overdose deaths trended down for 2023 for the first time in five years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3,500 fewer people died from drug overdoses in 2023 than in 2022. Still, more than 107,000 people died of overdoses in America last year.
Since 2018, Waalkes said they have collected more than 3,000 pounds of medication just in Kent County.
One of the major contributing factors to the reduction is the availability of naloxone, commonly called NARCAN.
"NARCAN is an opioid reversal agent," said Waalkes. "So, if someone is in an opioid overdose, it actually blocks the receptors and it protects them."
NARCAN is available over the counter in a nasal spray. It will also be given out at the event Saturday for free.
"Initially, NARCAN was available as an injection, and it was hard to get," said Wallkes. "It was expensive. A lot of insurances didn't even cover any of the NARCAN. So, the people who needed it most, couldn't afford access to this lifesaving medication."
The stigma surrounding substance use disorder is also changing, says Waalkes.
"Sometimes we'll offer a NARCAN to people, and they say, 'Oh, I don't know an opioid addict,'" said Waalkes. "Actually, it's interesting, because almost every family is affected by substance use disorder, and if you don't know anyone, or you don't know any family members, it's because no one's talking about it. It's not because it doesn't exist."
Priority Health has a behavioral health hotline for its patients 24/7. Corewell Health also hosts walk-in clinics for those with substance use disorder.
There are vending machines across the state to get NARCAN. You can find a list of locations here.
For a list of resources to help with opioid use disorder, click here. You can also call the Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).