Contact: Cheryl Wittke – Safe Communities Director: 608-256-6713 cwittke@safercommunity.net Stop the Epidemic – Get Rid of your Medicine at a MedDrop Location Madison, WI -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared drug overdoses an “American Epidemic.” Poisoning has surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury death in Dane County according to the latest statistics available from Public Health-Madison and Dane County. “Taking the simple step of bringing your unwanted or unnecessary medications to MedDrop goes a long way to stop this epidemic and improve the safety of our community and your family,” says Cheryl Wittke, Director, Safe Communities. Over 75% of Dane County poisonings were the result of drugs. “Young children, teens, seniors, everyone - is safer if unnecessary medications are removed from the home. If medications are not available we expect to see a drop in accidental and intentional poisonings.” Dane County residents are encouraged to bring their unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicines to any of the thirteen MedDrop locations in Dane County. Thanks to these law enforcement partners for making MedDrop possible: Blue Mounds Police Department 11011 Brigham Ave, Blue Mounds, WI 53517 Call (608) 437-5197 for hours of operation Cambridge Police Department 200 South Spring Street, Cambridge WI (view map) Call (608) 423-4328 for hours of operation Deerfield Police Department 7 West Deerfield Street, Deerfield, WI (view map) Call (608) 764-5626 for hours of operation Fitchburg Police Department 5520 Lacy Road, Fitchburg, WI (view map) Available 7:30 am-4:30 pm Monday-Friday (608) 270-4300 Madison Police East District 809 South Thompson Drive, Madison, WI (view map) Available 8am-4pm Monday-Friday (608) 266-4887 Madison Police West District 1710 McKenna Boulevard, Madison, WI (view map) (608) 243-0500 Available 8am-4pm Monday-Friday Madison, University of Wisconsin Police Department 1429 Monroe St, Madison, WI (view map) Call (608)264-2677 for hours of operation Mazomanie Police Department 133 Crescent Street, Mazomanie, WI (view map) Call (608) 767-2762 for hours of operation McFarland Police Department 5915 Milwaukee Street, McFarland, WI (view map) (608) 838-3151 Available 8am-9pm Monday-Friday Middleton Police Department 7341 Donna Drive, Middleton, WI (view map) (608) 824-7300 – available 24 hours in the lobby Oregon Police Department 383 Park St. Oregon, WI 53575 (view map) Contact for Hours (608) 835-3111 Sun Prairie Police Department 300 E. Main Street, Sun Prairie, WI (view map) (608) 837-7336 Available 24 hours in the lobby Waunakee Police Department 205 N. Klein Drive, Waunakee, WI (view map) (608) 849 4523 Available 8am-6pm Monday-Friday “We encourage you to clean out all places you store medications – bathroom medicine cabinets, closets, night stands, and kitchen cupboards. Forgotten medications can be especially dangerous,” says Wittke. MedDrop will accept:  Prescription medicine (pills, liquids and creams)  Over-the-counter medicine (pills, liquids and creams)  Medications for pets  Nebulizer solution Illegal drugs will also be taken, no questions asked. They will be turned over to authorities for immediate disposal. MedDrop will not accept:  Needles/sharps/Epi-pens  Thermometers  IV bags  Oxygen tanks  Nebulizer machines All materials collected will be disposed of following environmentally responsible procedures. MedDrop is a service of Safe Communities, a local public/private partnership that sustains joint action by area agencies, businesses, and neighborhoods to SAVE LIVES, prevent injuries and make our community safer. For more information go to SaferCommunity.net ###