July 15, 2015 Contact: Jennifer McKay

(231) 347-1181

Put Your Pills in the POD! Emmet County Drug Collection Event on July 25th

PETOSKEY – To help citizens properly dispose of unwanted or expired medicines, there is an upcoming POD (Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drug Drop-Off) collection event in Harbor Springs. This collection event will take place at the Emmet County Drop-Off Center, 7363 Pleasantview Road, on Saturday,July 25, from 9 a.m. to noon.

This is an environmentally safe, convenient, and free way to dispose of unwanted and expired pills. Area residents can bring unused or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in the original containers including pills, liquids, ointments, lotions, and even pet medications.

“Improper disposal of unwanted and expired medicine can pose a significant danger to our Northern Michigan waters, community, and families,” said Jennifer McKay, policy specialist, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. “By using the POD Program and properly disposing of unwanted pharmaceuticals and drugs, residents will help us keep our rivers and drinking water clean and our communities and families safe.”

Traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose potential safety and health hazards and should be avoided. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Residents may also dispose of medicines throughout the year at permanent POD Drop-off Boxes, located at law enforcement agencies throughout Northern Michigan. For more information or to find a location near you, visit www.pillsinthepod.com.

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Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council speaks for our members including full-time and seasonal residents, lake associations, and businesses. We work to maintain the environmental integrity and economic and aesthetic values of lakes, streams, wetlands, and ground water in Northern Michigan, as well as statewide and throughout the Great Lakes Basin. As the lead organization for water resources protection in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties, the Watershed Council is working to preserve the heritage of Northern Michigan – a tradition built around our magnificent waters.

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