Properly dispose of prescription drugs

Tomorrow is National Drug Take Back Day. Across our region, there will be designated locations for those with old prescription medicines to properly dispose of what’s been taking up space in their cabinets. It’s the safest way to do so.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., law enforcement, municipal, county and state agencies — with the help of states’ attorneys general — will staff Take Back sites. It’s an effort that’s been an important part of the National Drug Enforcement Administration’s work since 2010.
“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting,” the agency says. “DEA is committed to making our communities safer and healthier, and we can do this by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. While the community does its part to turn in unneeded medications and remove them from potential harm, we are doing our part to further reduce drug-related violence.”
In our region, there will be a handful of collection sites available on Saturday, staffed by officers:
Granville Police Department, Sams Club Pharmacy, University Town Center;
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Pierpoint Landing Pharmacy;
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Villages at Heritage Point;
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Mon General Hospital;
Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Kroger Pharmacy, Suncrest Town Center;
West Virginia University Police Department, 992 Elmer Prince Dr, Morgantown.
Unused or expired prescription medications are often incinerated by law enforcement agencies after collection. That is a much better option than leaving open the possibility those drugs could fall into the wrong hands. Take advantage of this fall’s event. You’ll free up some room, and feel better knowing you’ve made your home a little safer.