The Montana Farm Bureau Federation is encouraging rural communities to participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, April 27. Anne Hazlett, senior adviser for rural affairs at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, explained that Saturday provides an opportunity to remove unused opioids from your medicine cabinet.  

“This is an event that happens twice a year, where law enforcement teams up with community leaders and provides a disposal location where people can get rid of the unused or expired medications in their medicine cabinets,” Hazlett said. In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose and many of those deaths happened as a result of opioids.

“Many of those deaths happened in rural communities,” said MFBF Executive Vice President John Youngberg. “A lot of folks who struggle with addictions will find unused opioids or other drugs that family or friends have; it’s important to get unused medications out of your home. The Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides the perfect—and safe—way to eliminate those medications.”

The Montana Farm Bureau urges Montanans to visit www.farmtownstrong.org to become educated on the signs and prevention of opioid abuse.  

The good news is there are many disposal locations available, even in rural Montana. Find a take back site near you at www.deatakeback.com.