Ross County Authorities, the DEA and Kroger are coming together this weekend for a prescription drug take-back event.
Area law enforcement officers will be accepting prescription drugs for disposal at the North Bridge Street Kroger from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday, October 27th. The service is free and no questions are asked as they just want the drugs off the street. A prescription drop off box is also located at the Ross County Law Complex and is available 24/7.
These Prescription Take Back efforts have proven successful over the years with Americans forfeiting more than 475 tons of prescription pills last spring alone. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.