OHIO COUNTY, W.Va. (WTRF) — Several local law enforcement officers and pharmacists have set up various locations today to help people dispose of their old or expired prescription drugs safely.
The DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was held today at several locations throughout the Ohio Valley.
Local Pharmacies like Kroger and Elm Grove Pharmacy partner with the DEA twice a year to keep dangerous medications out of homes and out of the hands of people who might abuse them.
Pharmacists and law enforcement officers collected any tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs that are no longer used.
During last October’s Takeback Day, 300 tons of prescription drugs were collected. A Seargent from the Wheeling Police Department shares the importance of the event and why it is necessary.
It’s very important to properly dispose of them. You don’t want to put them into the water stream or just throw them in the trash. And also, we want to get some of the harder drugs that people have used, like pain medication, fentanyl patches, morphine patches, and get those out of the hands of people that might get addicted and then continue those use and then on to harder illegal drugs.”
Sgt. Rob Safreed – Wheeling Police Department
If you were unable to make it out to one of the takeback locations today, you can drop your expired or unused drugs off anytime at the Wheeling Police Department’s collection bin.
