COLUMBUS – Americans are encouraged to bring unused, expired or unwanted prescriptions to various approved locations across the nation – including nearly 250 in Ohio – to dispose of the drugs Saturday as part of the battle against addiction, which claims thousands of lives every year.
“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” (Sat., April 27; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in an effort to provide safe, convenient and responsible means for disposal of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse and medications.
Within the past two weeks, it has been announced that Ohio State University will lead an effort to reduce overdose deaths and the Franklin County Coroner’s Office reported that over 500 people died from overdoses last year.
More than a dozen locations in central Ohio have been set up where residents can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs.
Health officials caution that prescription drugs should not be put in the trash or left in medicine chests. Four out of every five heroin addicts say their battle with addiction began with misuse of a prescription opiate painkiller.