COLUMBUS – Central Ohio health, environmental and safety officials are teaming up to encourage residents to battle the opioid addiction crisis at one of its sources — the family medicine cabinet – during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
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Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the event aims to provide safe and convenient opportunities for Americans to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs.
“Addiction isn’t an individual problem or a character flaw, it’s a disease – a disease that all too often starts in the family medicine cabinet,” said Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was in Columbus to promote the event on Monday. “Unused prescription medicines – especially addictive opioid painkillers – must be disposed of in a safe, responsible way to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.”
“Four out of five people addicted to opioids start out using prescription drugs. That’s why it’s so important to safely dispose of all unnecessary prescription medications,” Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman said
Both have introduced legislation designed to help stop synthetic drugs like fentanyl and carfentanil from entering the U.S.
More than a dozen locations and partners are helping to bring this initiative to Franklin County which will be held on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Residents are asked not to dispose of unused prescription drugs in the trash but to stop by one of these locations to safely dispose of them. Unless otherwise noted, only pills will be accepted at these locations.
The following Kroger stores are accepting pills, liquid medicine, aerosols and inhalers, needles, creams, and patches:
Canal Winchester – 6095 Gender Rd.
Columbus – 3637 S. High St. and 2090 Crown Plaza Dr.
Gahanna – 300 S. Hamilton Rd.
Hilliard – 4656 Cemetery Rd.
Westerville – 55 W. Schrock Rd.
See a complete list of drop-off locations in Ohio.
The event also aims to educate the community about the potential for abuse of medications.
Franklin County is home to several permanent drug drop-off locations.
Properly disposing of medication also contributes to keeping waterways and the environment protected and healthy, according to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio.