Safely dispose of prescription drugs & access Narcan on National Drug Take Back Day

CHICAGO — October 22, 2025 — Ten Northwestern Medicine sites will offer drive-up collection locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing community members with a safe and convenient way to dispose of unused medications.

In addition to collecting medications, Northwestern Medicine team members will distribute Narcan (naloxone) and share information about opioid overdose prevention.

“Many people are first exposed to opioids through medications found in the homes of friends or family,” said Sterling Elliott, PharmD, BCMTMS, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine. “Take Back Day is an important opportunity to remove these drugs from circulation and prevent misuse. Proper disposal helps protect our communities and environment.”

Unused or expired prescription medications pose a public safety risk and can lead to accidental poisoning, misuse, or overdose. Northwestern Medicine will host 10 drive-up collection sites across the Chicagoland area on Saturday, October 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where community members can safely dispose of their medications.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, nonmedical use of prescription drugs is the second most common form of drug misuse in the United States.

Drive-up collection sites include:

• Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care St. Charles (east side of parking lot by Kirk Road), 2900 Foxfield Road, St. Charles
• Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital, 1302 North Main Street, Sandwich
• Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital Medical Records Building (one driveway south of main hospital), 2731 Sycamore Road, DeKalb
• Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (east entrance roundabout), 25 North Winfield Road, Winfield
• Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, 600 North Westmoreland Road, Lake Forest
• Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, 4201 West Medical Center Drive, McHenry
• Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital (main entrance driveway, first right, west side of hospital), 12251 South 80th Avenue, Palos Heights
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital Lavin Family Pavilion, 259 East Erie Street, Chicago
• Northwestern Medicine Old Irving Park Advanced Outpatient Center Patient Drop-off Area (inside attached parking garage), 4445 West Irving Park Road, Chicago
• Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital Main Entrance, 10400 Haligus Road, Huntley

Narcan kiosks now available at Northwestern Medicine sites

Narcan kiosks are now available at seven Northwestern Medicine locations across Chicagoland, offering free access to the life-saving medication.

“Expanding access to Narcan nasal spray is a critical step in saving lives. The statistics are moving in the right direction,” Elliott said. “We must continue this momentum—DEA data shows that half of all seized street drugs containing fentanyl have to be fatal.”

Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, can reverse an opioid overdose when sprayed into the nose during an emergency.

Narcan kiosks are located at:

• Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center, 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb (open daily 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center – Community Support Program, 631 South 1st Street, DeKalb (open daily 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, Emergency Department Lobby, 4201 Medical Center Drive, McHenry (available 24/7)
• Northwestern Medicine Orland Park Behavioral Health Services, 15300 West Avenue, Suite 313, Building C, Orland Park (Mon/Wed/Fri 8:45 a.m.–9 p.m.; Tues/Thurs 8:45 a.m.–3:40 p.m.)
• Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services, 760 Foxpointe Drive, Sycamore (Mon–Wed 8 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Thurs/Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)
• Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, Behavioral Health Services, 27W350 High Lake Road, Winfield (Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.)
• Northwestern Medicine Woodstock Hospital, Emergency Department Lobby, 701 Doty Road, Woodstock (available 24/7)