ROCHESTER — Local health systems and law enforcement agencies are teaming up for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26. Dr.
Benjamin Lai, chair of Mayo Clinic's Opioid Stewardship Program, said discarding of old or otherwise unused medications is important for a few reasons. One is that it can prevent the misuse of controlled substances such as opioids. ADVERTISEMENT "We also don't want these drugs to end up in children's hands or pets getting ahold of these drugs," Lai said.
"So it's a good idea to just get rid of them." Olmsted County has been participating in the Take Back Day — an effort coordinated by the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration — for around 10 years, said Tim Parkin, captain of investigations for the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office. "Last fall, when we participated in this, I think we collected just over 600 pounds," Parkin said. Here's what to know.
This year's Take Back Day event will be at Mayo Family Clinic Northeast at 3041 Stonehedge Dr. NE in Rochester. "Traditionally, we would have this in our downtown campus, on the Gonda west entrance, but because of some of the construction work going on downtown, it's much easier to put this in a different location," Lai said.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.
m., volunteers will collect medication in a drive-thru setup. People can also park at the clinic and interact with representatives from the Rochester Police Department, Rochester Fire Department, Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service and the county.
