ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – UPDATE: On Monday, information was dispersed to multiple local police departments such as Ishpeming, Negaunee, and Forsyth Township, that the DEA would be discontinuing the drug take-back programs, following a presumed discontinuation at the federal level.
On Wednesday, WZMQ received word from a DEA spokesperson. The DEA says “there are no plans to get rid of these drug take-back programs,” as no official decision has been made by the DEA.
WZMQ spoke with Ishpeming Police Chief, Chad Radabaugh about the matter. He said the department was given the initial information “face to face,” and that they must wait until this new information is confirmed before re-opening the program.
ORIGINAL STORY:
As of Tuesday, April 29 the Ishpeming police department will no longer be accepting expired, unwanted or unused medications.
The change comes from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), discontinuing the drug take-back program at the federal level. Police Chief Chad Radabaugh says that the future for this initiative is unknown.
After the drug take-back program began at the Ishpeming Police Department in 2012, a number of issues in the area related to drug hoarding and abuse were significantly restrained.
“We had issues with people breaking and entering to get to pills that they knew people had,” said Radabaugh. “Also, we’ve had people flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the garbage, which can be an environmental issue.”
The program has been at no cost to the city with the help of the administration.
“With the DEA, it hasn’t cost the city anything,” said Radabaugh. “It’s just been a free service we’ve been able to offer to the community.”
At this time, the Ishpeming department doesn’t have enough storage space for any intake. Chief Radabaugh says that Marquette’s Meijer pharmacy is the next best option.
To learn more about the safety of proper drug disposal, visit michigan.gov.
