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Meijer pharmacies, Mercy Health and police departments participate in Drug Take Back Day

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

Updated October 31, 2023 12:28 PM

People are encouraged to participate in the annual prescription drug take-back day on the last Saturday in October and April across Ohio.

Any prescription that is safely packaged can be dropped off from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. this Saturday at participating locations.

No liquids, needles or sharp objects are accepted.

Why you should properly dispose of medicine

Proper disposal of unneeded medications helps:

Prevent them from being misused or stolen.
Prevent children, pets, and other people from accidentally ingesting unused or expired medications.
Keeps the medication out of water and soil.

Here are some of the major retailers you can go locally for National Drug Take Back Day.

Let us know if we missed any participating locations and we’ll update the list. Send an email to news@mahoningmatters.com.

Liberty Township Police Department

Stop by the lobby of the Liberty Township Administration Building between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to drop off prescription drugs for National Drug Take Back Day.

It’s sponsored by the Liberty Police Department, along with the DEA.

They’re accepting unneeded medications, but can’t take any liquids, needles or anything sharp.

Meijer

According to Meijer pharmacies, since 2019 customers have answered the call to drop off expired and unwanted medication.

More than 18 tons of unneeded medications have been deposited and disposed of at Ohio Meijer pharmacies since 2019.

Nationwide, customers dropped off over three and a half tons of medications during the biannual spring Drug Take Back Day on April 22.

This Saturday, Mahoning Valley customers can dispose of unwanted and expired medications in the receptacles by the pharmacy counter during normal pharmacy hours.

Drop off medicine at the Warren Meijer pharmacy at 2100 Niles Cortland Road SE in the Eastwood Mall Complex in Warren.

Click here to find a Meijer pharmacy near you.

If you miss Take Back Day this year, find controlled substance drop off locations that are open throughout the year here.

Mercy Health

Mercy Health is also participating in this Saturday’s National Drug Take Back Day.

You can drop off medication at any time and it’ll be secure and confidential inside receptacles at any of these hospitals:

Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital
Mercy Health – St. Joseph Warren Hospital
Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital

“Medication can be integral to a patient’s treatment and journey to healing. However, it is imperative that they are disposed of properly once they are no longer needed to ensure the safety of others and our environment,” said Dr. Lewis Spirtos, medical director for Outpatient Behavioral Health at Mercy Health. “We all have a responsibility to make sure medications are disposed of correctly, and National Drug Take Back Day is a great day to do that.”

Accepted medications to drop off include vitamins, pills and pet medications. They can’t accept needles, inhalers, liquids, lotions, aerosols, ointments and creams.

“We are proud to partner with other organizations throughout the Lorain community to ensure that area residents have a means to properly and lawfully dispose of medications in a safe way,” said Dr. Spirtos. “Our hospitals not only serve as a medication drop off location on Drug Take Back Day, but they are also available to the community year-round.”