DETROIT – More than 27 million people in the U.S. reported using illicit drugs or misusing prescription drugs in 2015, according to the surgeon general's new report, "Facing Addiction in America."
The abuse of opioid prescription pills often leads to the use of heroin, which is why experts warn people to get rid of their unused prescriptions.
"Studies have shown that the prescription, the abuse of prescription drugs, ultimately many times leads to heroin addiction, and heroin right now is a scourge. It's made a strong comeback," Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said. "It's very, very cheap on the street, and so when you can't get the prescription drug, they're going out on the street and buying heroin."
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The Oakland County Sheriff's Department said it has disposed of about 2,500 pounds of prescription drugs so far this year through its program Operation Medicine Cabinet. The department has 36 different locations where people can safely drop off prescription drugs.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Department is one of many agencies that provides places for people to drop off their prescriptions, including police departments, medical centers and pharmacies. To check out the program, click here.
Families Against Narcotics has compiled a list of drop-off locations in several Michigan counties. To find a place in the county where you live, click here.
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Laurie Wesolowicz, director of pharmacy services clinical at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is on Michigan's prescription drug and opioid abuse commission, which was created to come up with solutions and an action plan for the heroin epidemic. Before that, she was on the Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force created by Gov. Snyder to address the crisis.
Click here to see the findings of the task force.
"The other thing that I believe is really important is that people become more aware of addiction issues and also how they have some responsibility within their own households," Wesolowicz said. "Disposing of opioids and other dangerous medications is sometimes a real challenge, and I think (we need to educate) more people about the resources that are available in the community to them, as well as making sure that they recognize that saving those extra pills just in case is actually one of the leading causes of teenagers and young adults becoming addicted to pain medications.
"They don't typically get them from their own prescription; they get them from friends and family, so it's not unusual for some (people) to go through their parents' and grandparents' cabinets and find old medications to abuse."
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To be dropped off, prescription drugs should be in sealed plastic bags. Liquids, ointments and creams must also be sealed. Drop-off locations do not accept needles.
"If you don't need them, get rid of them," McCabe said. "Bring them in to one of the locations and get rid of them right away."
Prescription drugs cannot be flushed down the toilet because even extremely diluted concentrations can get into the drinking system or hurt wildlife. They also cannot be thrown in the trash, where others can get their hands on them.
McCabe also recommends locking up prescription drugs or putting them in a place that is only accessible to the person to whom it is prescribed.
You can share your addiction story here.
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