By HOLLY GASKILL
Unused prescription drugs are a much greater danger than many people realize.
While these medications pose a risk to those struggling with dependence, they can also be unknowingly and tragically mistaken for other medications. Additionally, improper disposal of prescriptions creates an opportunity for the drugs to be retrieved and abused or sold illegally.
Knowing this, the Wells County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the DEA to host a Drug Take Back Initiative on Saturday. At this event, law enforcement will collect and properly dispose of any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and medical needles.
The collection site will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart in Bluffton.
Participants are asked to bring all items in their original containers, however, unmarked medications will still be accepted. All sharps — medical syringes, lancets and needles — should be in containers to prevent accidental pricks.
As part of a national collection effort, the DEA has collected 16,636,729 lbs. of materials since 2016. Of this amount, 460,774 lbs. were from Indiana.
“This effort is a crucial component of maintaining a healthy community, and it’s worth continuing in order to keep these potentially dangerous substances out of the hands of those who should not possess them and out of landfills where the substances have the potential to negatively impact our environment,” Bluffton Chief of Police Kyle Randall said.
Although this event is a special collection of these materials, both the Bluffton Police Department and Sheriff’s Office accept these items throughout the year as part of a continued effort to combat opioid abuse.
By reviewing and properly disposing of unwanted medication, residents can prevent medicine theft, drug abuse and accidental poisoning within the community. Learn more about the initiative at the DEA’s website, dea.gov/takebackday.
holly@news-banner.com
