Staff report
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is reminding Ohioans to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which will take place across the country Saturday.
Ohioans can drop off unneeded or unwanted prescription medications at nearly 300 locations in the state on Saturday, April 26, 2014, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Locally, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a prescription take-back day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Medication can be dropped off at the Sheriff’s Office. The Galion Police Department will also be accepting unwanted prescription medications Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Galion PD will be at the Galion Community Hospital lobby to accept unwanted and unused medications from area residents.
No questions will be asked of those who bring in the medications to be dropped off. This includes prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Law enforcement will then properly and safely dispose of the medications.
“While the number of prescription drug overdose deaths in Ohio is going down, we still need to work together to do everything possible to prevent future death and addition,” said Attorney General DeWine. “By properly disposing of your unneeded medications, you are helping to make sure those pills cannot be misused.”
“There is a solid link between prescription drug abuse and an increased risk of heroin use across America,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Plancon. “The National Take-Back Initiative is a safe and convenient way of properly disposing unwanted pharmaceutical drugs; in addition it offers all of us a way to do our part in the fight against heroin and all drug abuse.”
According to the DEA, seven previous nationwide Take-Back events have removed a total of more than 3.4 million pounds of medication from circulation.
A list of collection sites in Ohio can be found on the DEA’s website: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/.