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About 6,700 pounds of unwanted medicine was collected in the first year of a new Hennepin County disposal program.

 medicine disposal drop boxes last March. The program now has six boxes in libraries, law enforcement offices and courts.

The self-serve boxes provide an alternative to tossing old meds in the trash, says Lisa Kiava, spokesperson for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office.

Medication that's thrown in the garbage could end up 

 - or in the hands of people looking to sell or abuse it.

And given the widespread abuse of prescription painkillers, Kiava says, it's important for people to securely dispose of any medication they no longer need.

Many people addicted to prescription painkillers will seek out homes that might have old meds, Kiava says.

"There are cases where people know someone has died of cancer ... and will go and root through their garbage," she says. "People will go to open houses just to search through someone's medicine cabinet."

The disposal program, run by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and Hennepin County Environmental Services, incinerates the medication it collects.

(A Hennepin County employee demonstrates how to use the medicine disposal drop box in the lobby of the Public Safety Facility in Minneapolis. Photo courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office)

Anyone with household medications (with a few exceptions, outlined below) can use the boxes. There's no charge, and you don't need an I.D.

Brooklyn Center - Hennepin County District Court Brookdale

6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Brooklyn Center

Hours: Mon. - Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Brooklyn Park - Hennepin County Sheriff Patrol Headquarters

Edina - Hennepin County Library - Southdale

Hours: Mon. - Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

Minneapolis - Hennepin County Public Safety Facility

Minnetonka - Hennepin County District Court Ridgedale

Hours: Mon. - Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Fri. - Sat.:10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun.: Noon - 5 p.m.

Spring Park - Hennepin County Sheriff's Water Patrol

Prescription medicines, including controlled substances

 accept sharps, used syringes, or medicine from businesses.

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Madeleine Baran

Author

A Hennepin County program that collects unwanted medication received 6,700 pounds of medicine in its first year.

Hennepin County takes in 3 tons of unwanted meds in program’s first year

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