Drug take-back day is April 29

Nearly 700 Montanans died of prescription opioid poisoning between 2000 and 2015, according to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Nearly 70 percent of painkiller abusers get their drugs from a friend or family member and most get them for free, according to the department.

Each year, health officials and law enforcement agencies pair up for a day to provide a simple way to reduce the chance of addiction beginning at home: dispose of unnecessary medication.

The Montana Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration and local law enforcement agencies and community advocacy groups will host drug take-back events across the state on April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Montana Attorney General Tim Fox said the day is a reminder to Montanans:

“Keeping those items in the medicine cabinet offers no benefit, and can endanger the well-being of our loved ones who may accidentally ingest them, or who may have a substance-abuse issue,” Fox said.

In the Flathead Valley, the Whitefish Police Department will host the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing people to safely dispose of unnecessary drugs while also educating the public on the potential danger of leaving unused pills in the home.

During the 12th National Take-Back Day last October, Americans turned in 366 tons — or roughly 730,000 pounds — of prescription drugs, according to the state Department of Justice.

Overall, partners in the Take Back events have taken in more than 7.1 million pounds of pills.

Other Montana cities hosting events this year include Big Timber, Bozeman, Browning, Cut Bank, Dillon, East Helena, Eureka, Gardiner, Glendive, Great Falls, Harlowton, Helena, Libby, Miles City, Missoula, Roundup, Stevensville, Superior and Thompson Falls.

Illegal drugs, liquid medications, chemotherapy drugs, needles or other sharps, oxygen containers, pressurized canisters, or radioactive substances cannot be accepted at the take-back events.

Montanans who cannot make it to an event on April 29 can dispose of their unwanted medications by visiting a permanent drug drop-box location. The list of permanent drug drop box locations in Montana is available at https://resolvemontana.org.

For more resources and information about prescription drug abuse in Montana, visit https://resolvemontana.org.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.