Members of the Gamma Chi chapter, Ferris State University's affiliates with the Kappa
Psi national pharmacy fraternity will staff a medication disposal effort on Saturday,
April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of National Drug Take Back Day activities,
with support from the university's Department of Public Safety.
Cayman Dulz is a first-year Pharmacy student from Armada, organizing the chapter's participation in this event.
"We welcome medications from students and the general public," Dulz said. "We cannot accept needles as part of this drop-off. Our Department of Public Safety contact will dispose of the unused or expired medications collected through this event."
DPS Director John Allen said a student cadet joins with the fraternity members that day, in Lot 1, east of the University Center building, for drive-by disposal of those medications.
"This is a great program because the drugs do not wind up flushed down toilets, thus polluting or contaminating our water supply," Allen said. "It also keeps unused medications out of the hands of young children or pets and ensures they are destroyed properly."
Allen added that the Ferris DPS offices in the West Commons also have a drug drop-off station available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Diversion Control Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the United States Department of Justice, says Michigan is one of the most active participants, with 240 law enforcement agencies staffing drop locations for the Take Back Day held on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The program takes place twice annually, in April and October. The most recent event saw 372 tons of pharmaceuticals collected.
Contact the Ferris Department of Public Safety at (231) 591-5000 or email their headquarters for more information on the program.