A new prescription drop box is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the lobby of the police station located at 36701 Ford Rd., Westland, MI 48185. The drop box allows Westland residents to take back their old, unwanted medications to the Westland Police Department to be properly disposed of for FREE!

Acceptable drugs include:

-       Prescriptions

-       Prescription Patches

-       Prescription Medications

-       Prescription Ointments

-       Over-the-counter medications

-       Vitamins

-       Samples

-       Medications for pets

Most drugs can be thrown in the household trash, but this can lead to prescription drug abuse. Every day, more than 2,500 teenagers abuse prescription medication for the first time. Sadly, teens often experiment with medications they find right at home. Therefore, consumers should take certain precautions before tossing them out, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A few drugs should be flushed down the toilet while others can be disposed of conveniently at the Westland Police Department.

However, increasing amounts of prescription drugs and personal care products are being detected in rivers, waterways, and groundwater. Wastewater treatment facilities are not equipped to "filter out" these chemicals, so drugs like antidepressants, cholesterol reducers and antibiotics are being detected in drinking water supplies. The risk to humans and animals of long-term exposure to these contaminants in drinking water is unknown, but Westland's new drug disposal initiative will alleviate these concerns.