Drug Take Back event part disposal, part educational

A good turnout for Saturday’s Drug Take Back Day event outside the La Crosse County Health and Human Services building.  

Laura Runchey, a health educator with the La Crosse County Health Department, said people drove, biked, and walked up.

People were dropping off expired, unused, or unneeded prescriptions and medications. That included one who had medications that were more than seven years. 

She said that that happens during this event due to people spring cleaning. 

“One of the important things that we’re reminding people of is these events happen twice a year, but we have boxes throughout the community that people can go to in between these so that they don’t have to hold on to them for so long,” Runchey said.  

Education is a part of the drop off. As people come by, she provides a flier that covers keeping prescription and non-prescription medications out of the wrong hands.  

“We just want to make sure that we have access…the community has access to and knows where these can go,” she said. “And appreciate these not being flushed because we know that that’s something that’s happened in the past…so wanting to make sure that access is there and reminding people that there’s access throughout our region.” 

Click here for a list of medication drop boxes in La Crosse County.  

Runchey said that when the events are over, everything remains secured by law enforcement. First, the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office collects the drugs. They turn over what they have to members of the DEA. Eventually, the drugs go to a special incinerator in New Jersey for final disposal.  

Saturday’s event at the Health and Human Services building was one of several in the region and one of many nationwide.

This is the first of two drug take back events for 2025. The next one is this fall.