Cook County Department of Public Health Releases Results of Youth Risk Behavior Survey

On Saturday, September 17th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm the Cook County Department of Environmental Control and Village of Oak Park is sponsoring a free Prescription Drug Take-back program. This event is a low-cost, high-value opportunity to tackle a critical environmental issue. The EPA has asked people not to flush old medications, as trace elements have been found in groundwater. Each year, close to 5,000 tons of pharmaceutical and personal care products enter the waste stream. Many survive water treatment processes and end up in drinking water. Medicines improperly disposed of end up in landfills, leading to the potential of accidental overdose by animals and humans. Residents can drop off unused medications at the Public Works Center at 201 South Boulevard. This one-day collection event is sponsored by the Cook County Dept. of Environmental Control and the Village of Oak Park. For more information, contact Oak Park Public Works at 1708-358-5700 or publicworks@oak-park.us or Cook County Environmental Control( frank.coconate@cookcountyil.gov) at 1312-603-8217. Residents should bring only medication items—not items from businesses or doctors’ offices. To ensure anonymity and security, people are asked to black-out all prescription label information. Take prescriptions to the drop off center ONLY during event hours. Acceptable items include: Prescriptions Over the counter medications Medicated ointments and shampoos Liquids containing medication Prescription and over the counter inhalers Glass thermometers and other instruments that contain mercury Unacceptable items include: DEA controlled substances Narcotics Illegal drugs Sharps or needles Bio-hazardous materials Radioactive materials Other toxic household wastes For more information, contact Oak Park Public Works at 1708-358-5700 or publicworks@oak-park.us or Cook County Environmental Control(frank.coconate@cookcountyil.gov) at 1312-603-8217.