HELENA – Many Montana communities will take part in the annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.
The Montana Department of Justice, local law enforcement agencies, tribal law enforcement agencies, the DEA and the USDA are participating in the event which runs from 10 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Montanans are invited to bring their unwanted prescription pills and patches for free, no-questions-asked disposal at one of 34 participating collection sites across the state.
“Take Back Day offers a safe and easy way for each of us to properly dispose of outdated medications,” Attorney General Tim Fox said. “And for the first time in the history of this event in Montana, the USDA will host a Take Back site in Hamilton, expanding disposal options for Bitterroot Valley residents.”
Additionally, USDA Forest Service officers will also assist with a local Take Back location in Helena. The USDA has asked its agencies to also promote Take Back Day to employees and through social media channels to increase awareness statewide.
“Supporting and promoting Take Back Day is one small way to help Montanans slow or prevent opioid misuse in our communities,” said Tom Watson, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service State Conservationist for Montana.
Towns hosting Take Back events include Big Timber, Billings, Box Elder, Bozeman, Browning, Butte, Columbus, Crow Agency, Cut Bank, Ft. Belknap, Gardiner, Glendive, Great Falls, Hamilton, Harlem, Harlowton, Helena, Lame Deer, Lewistown, Libby, Lincoln, Livingston, Missoula, Polson, Red Lodge, Ronan, Roundup, Shelby, Superior, West Yellowstone, and Whitefish.
Click here to view the details of each event.
The following items will not be accepted during the event:
- Illegal drugs
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Needles
- Sharps
- Mercury (thermometers)
- Oxygen containers
- Pressurized canisters
- Radioactive substances.
Montanans who can’t make it to a Take Back Day event, or who aren’t near one of the hosting towns, can dispose of their unwanted medications by visiting one of over 50 permanent drug drop box locations across the state.
