Latest news with #WyomingDepartmentofPublicSafety
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Michigan participates in National Drug Take Back Day
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Across the country and here in West Michigan, people spent Saturday clearing out their medicine cabinets and safely getting rid of old prescriptions, syringes, vitamins and pet medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. At two drop-off sites in Wyoming, the University of Michigan Health-West and the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, more than 100 pounds of unwanted drugs were collected. It's part of a national effort led by the Drug Enforcement Administration to prevent medication misuse, reduce overdose risk and protect the environment. Pete Haverkamp, director of pharmacy at University of Michigan Health-West, has been a part of these events at the hospital since they started in 2011. Saturday marked the team's 27th drug take-back event. Since it began, the two sites have collected more than four tons of drugs. 'We enjoy doing this because it helps remove unwanted medication from our houses and homes,' he said. Collecting the drugs is part of the effort to help helping the environment by stopping improper disposal, since inappropriate disposal can lead to contamination in watersheds. It is also meant to protect families. Getting rid of these drugs also helps remove overdose risk by reducing diversion of controlled substances. The event gives families a safe, anonymous way to drop off medications without fear of judgment. It also helps address emotional burdens tied to old prescriptions. 'It's wonderful to help the public,' Haverkamp said. 'Sometimes it's really healing for people to get rid of medications associated with a loved one who passed away. This is a great way for them to dispose of medications appropriately and kind of let part of their life go.' Some drugs collected Saturday dated back decades, including medications from the 1970s and 1980s, long pushed to the backs of household cabinets. Once collected, volunteers carefully remove any personal information from packaging, recycle the plastics and cardboard and safely incinerate the drugs to minimize environmental harm. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day happens twice a year, in April and October. In October alone, more than 629,000 pounds of medications were collected at nearly 4,700 sites across the United States. For those who missed Saturday's event, year-round drop-off locations can be found on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Wyoming carnival returns with extra police after closing for fights
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Wyoming police are staffing more officers at a Spring Carnival Sunday after it was shut down for fights Saturday night. Sunday's extra staffing is in an effort to maintain safety at the carnival, according to Lt. Andrew Koeller with the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. 'We do not have any information there will be any issues today, but out of an abundance of caution we increased staffing of officers dedicated to the event,' Koeller told News 8. Police shut down Wyoming carnival for 'multiple large fights' The Spring Carnival began Friday at Lamar Park and lasts until April 20. On Saturday night, 'multiple large fights' prompted an early shutdown and 'several juveniles' were arrested after the fights broke out, Koeller said. No one was injured, he added. It's not clear what led up to the fights. Depending on what the prosecutor's office finds during review, the juveniles arrested could face charges, according to Koeller. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
