In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, substance abuse prevention advocates are launching the first-ever Drug Take-Back Event in the Amani Neighborhood on Saturday, August 31, with a resource fair, food, raffles, games, resources, and the Rec. ‘N’ Roll Mobile. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Moody Park Pavilion, 2201 W. Auer Ave.,
“There have been a number of drug take-back events in communities surrounding the Amani neighborhood, but until now no one has organized onein Amani,” said Amanda Clark, Coordinator of the 53206 Drug-Free Communities Project. “Residents often ask me how they can get rid of their unwanted pills. Now, they can bring the medication they no longer need to Moody Park on Saturday, where they can also enjoy free food andentertainment.”
The event will also feature 302 purple pinwheels to symbolize the 302 fatal overdoses in Milwaukee County last year.
Kasaundra Brown, Coordinator of the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (MCSAP), said that getting rid of unwanted medication is a good way to prevent substance misuse, overdoses, or poisonings.
“Many people with a substance use problem say they first got hooked by trying pills being stored in someone else’s medicine cabinet, or pills that were offered to them by a friend or family member,” Brown said. “Unfortunately, taking someone else’s medication can be very dangerous and lead to bigger problems down the road.”
In addition to taking back the medication, organizers will provide information on how to store medication safely at home, how to deactivate medication, and where residents can drop off their unwanted medication at police and fire stations and pharmacies around Milwaukee.
The event’s organizers include the 53206 Drug-Free Communities Project, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, COA Youth &Family Centers, Friends of Moody Park, the Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention coalition (MCSAP), Milwaukee Police Department, and Safe & Sound.