ALPENA — The United States is currently experiencing an epidemic of prescription drug misuse and abuse. Opioid overdose deaths in Michigan have almost tripled in five years. To help turn the tide on this epidemic, Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health Authority, Alpena Senior Citizens Center, Alpena City Police, and Alpena Fire Department are partnering with the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN) to host a medication take-back event from 10 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24.

Did you know?

¯ Every 10 minutes, a child visits the emergency room for medication poisoning.

¯ 12.5 million people age 12 and older misused opioids in the last year.

¯ Three in five teens say prescription pain medication is easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet.

Community opioid and medication take-back events provide a safe process for disposing of unused medications while protecting our communities, children and environment. Please, remove the risk from your home and bring your unused opioids to the Alpena Public Safety Facility medication take-back event at 501 W. Chisholm St.

For more information or to find other take-back event locations throughout Michigan, please visit http://michigan-open.org/.