COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohioans disposed of more than 16 tons of unneeded, unwanted or expired prescription drugs during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day back on April 29.
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says 33,261 pounds of pills were turned in to be safely disposed during the recent event.
“Tens of thousands of pills will never have the chance to be abused or misused because people throughout Ohio participated in Take Back Day," said Attorney General DeWine. "When Ohioans properly dispose of their unneeded medications, they are playing a very important role in the fight against addiction."
The event, held in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, provides a safe, convenient, and responsible means of prescription drug disposal. Unused prescription drugs in homes create a public health and safety concern because the medications can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused, and abused.
“By working together as citizens and law enforcement officials alike, we were able to make this Take Back event an overwhelming success as we minimized the number of unwanted prescription medications available to be misused and abused,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Bulgrin. "We want to thank every resident in Ohio and our Ohio law enforcement partners who took the time to come together and make this program successful.”