FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Major Milestone for Health Department’s RxBOX: 82.5 Tons of Medication Collected
Program Transitions on December 1, 2023
DuPage County - The DuPage County Health Department’s medication take-back program, known as RxBOX, is ending and will transition to a new vendor on December 1, 2023. Throughout the 14-year program, more than 82.5 tons (165,000 pounds) of unwanted, expired, or unused medications were safely disposed of, preventing drug misuse while also protecting our groundwater resources.
On October 18, 2023, partners from law enforcement agencies throughout DuPage County participating in the RxBOX program attended the final drop-off collection sponsored by DCHD. The program will now transition to a new management vendor, INMAR Intelligence. The change will be seamless for DuPage County residents, and they can continue to drop off unwanted medications at the participating law enforcement agencies.
“Unused medicines can end up in our landfills and waterways as well as in the hands of youth or others seeking prescription drugs for non-medical reasons,” said Adam Forker, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department. “I am proud of the Health Department’s work to protect the health of our community and am grateful to our partners who made this program possible.”
This new program is fully funded by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Starting December 1, 2023, the Illinois General Assembly, through the Drug Take-Back Act, requires the implementation of a manufacturer-led collection program.
DCHD launched the RxBOX program in 2009 to reduce substance use and accidental overdose from leftover prescription medications that were being obtained from people’s residences and to protect surface and groundwater resources by providing an alternative to disposing of them in the trash and flushing them down the toilet.
Funding to implement the program with 12 law enforcement agencies was initially provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The next seven participants were initially funded by DuPage County. The first year’s collection totaled 1,815 pounds. As the program grew and gained community recognition and support, subsequent collections increased in volume with a record high of more than 15,000 pounds being collected in 2019. Law enforcement agencies have observed a wide range of material collected including potentially dangerous items like morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl patches.
Proper disposal of unused medications protects the environment and saves lives. To find a disposal location near you, please visit Drug Disposal: Drug Take Back Locations | FDA
###