Locations:
The health systems will collect unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic will partner to host National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at more than a dozen collection locations across Northeast Ohio.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is a biannual event where communities throughout the country set up collection sites for the safe disposal of expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications. Proper disposal of unused drugs can prevent accidental poisoning, misuse and overdose.
“Unused medications are more likely to be mishandled,” said Michael Carlin, Vice President of Hospital Pharmacy Operations at University Hospitals. “At this event, people can safely rid their homes of these drugs. We are also equipping them with tools to intervene if someone in their life does overdose.”
All UH drug take-back sites will offer free naloxone kits and fentanyl test strips, courtesy of Project DAWN. This continued effort to make naloxone widely available remains a key strategy in fighting the opioid epidemic.
The comprehensive approach appears to be working to combat the opioid crisis, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that U.S. drug overdose deaths decreased by 10%. The CDC also warned earlier this month of a potential public health risk ordering pills from online pharmacies that may be laced with fentanyl and lead to accidental overdose. According to the CDC, there were more than 107,500 overdose deaths in the United States in 2023.
“The safe disposal of unused medications is an important step in preventing the accidental use or even the intentional abuse of drugs in our community,” said Cleveland Clinic’s Chief Pharmacy Officer Lindsey Amerine, Pharm.D. “This is a year-round priority for us but events like Drug Take-Back Day are an excellent opportunity to encourage all of us to take an especially thorough look around for extra medications that we should remove from our homes.”
UH Lake West, Portage and TriPoint medical centers, as well as the Ashland County Sheriff's Office, will provide no-cost glucose and blood pressure health screenings during this event.
“University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic continue to collaborate to advance the health needs of our communities by focusing on the prevention of substance misuse and overdose deaths,” said Jeanne Lackamp, M.D., Chair, Department of Psychiatry at UH Cleveland Medical Center and Director, Behavioral Health Institute at UH Health System. “This Drug Take-Back Day is one example of our joint approach to reduce unintentional drug overdose deaths.”
In addition to northeast Ohio locations, Cleveland Clinic will host collection efforts at four locations in Florida.
"Drug take-back days are important and potentially life-saving events, and we are proud to join hospitals across the country in supporting them,” said Charles Gowans, Regional Director of Outpatient Pharmacy for Cleveland Clinic Florida. “In many households, the likelihood exists for unused medications to be misused, and we want to give the public a safe and effective way to dispose of them.”
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Collection Locations:
Cleveland Clinic Florida locations:
Media is invited to cover this event at:
University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center
Outside the Risman Pavilion under the overhang
3999 Richmond Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
Media Contacts:
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.
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