(via WOOD TV) — Federal authorities say they collected nearly 23,700 pounds of old medications in Michigan during the recent National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The April 27 take back day netted about 12 million pounds of drugs nationwide, the Drug Enforcement Association said Monday.
The Detroit Field Division of the DEA, which covers Michigan and Ohio, says it took in about 23,692 pounds of drugs in Michigan and 50,822 in Ohio. Altogether, that's more than 75,500 pounds.
With nation in the midst of an opioid epidemic linked to increased use of prescription medications, the take back day is meant to get unused drugs out of homes so they can't contribute to abuse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there were 47,600 fatal opioid overdoses nationwide in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available. Michigan had nearly 2,700 deadly overdoses. Ohio had more than 5,100 and the second-highest rate in the country.
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