Prescription Medication Misuse

According to the Shiawassee County Community Health Needs Assessment conducted by Memorial Healthcare in 2016, 16% of adults reported that they had used medication not prescribed to them or took more than subscribed to feel good or high during the past 6 months. Prescription misuse can result in death. Twelve opioid related deaths were reported in the 2019 Office of the Medical Examiner Drug Report released from Sparrow Hospital.

Shiawassee Prevention Network (SPN) partners encourage county residents to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription medication to protect their loved ones and community members. If there are prescription drugs in your household, they should be kept in a lock box or locked cabinet.

Shiawassee County has five drop off locations for prescription drugs. Items accepted include all pills. No syringes, inhalers, or liquids can be disposed; however, liquids can be disposed on a paper towel that was left to air dry.

Drop off locations:

• Corunna: Shiawassee County Sheriff’s Office

• Durand: City Hall

• Owosso: Memorial Healthcare and Owosso Public Safety Department

• Perry: City Hall

SPN participates in Drug Take Back events throughout the year, and between 2019-2020 SPN participated in 4 events! Community events took place at the Shiawassee Family YMCA and the Owosso and Durand Council’s on Aging.