Turn in unused drugs on September 26

The day is National Prescription Drug Takeback Day and the public safety department is teaming up with the Union County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse for a “Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs” event.

The event, which offers a confidential and safe way to dispose of medications, will have two drop off locations for Mingo County residents.

The service is free, and no questions asked. Phelps urged the public to “bring your unwanted medication to this drug take back day”. When combined with all the previous eight editions, they gathered around 2,400 tons of pills overall, to a total of 4.82 million pounds of prescription drugs taken back under the watchful eyes of the DEA. The prescription drug box also accepts pet medications, according to a news release.

Anyone interested can head online and use the “Locate a Collection Site” on their official website in order to find the nearest point where all those unused medicines can go and no longer unsafely stay the cabinets of your home. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisoning and overdoses due to these drugs.

Other SAMHSA statistics say that 75 percent of prescription drugs that are abused or misused are not purchased off the street or written by a physician, but are given by, bought from or stolen from a family member or a friend. In addition, Americans are advised that flushing drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash poses potential safety and health hazards.

UPLAND Residents here now have a secure drop-off location for getting rid of prescription drugs, the Upland Police Department announced this week.

If you have outdated and leftover prescription drugs in your home, you’ll have a chance to dispose of them on Saturday, September 26.