Date: 04-28-2017
Unused prescription drug disposal scheduled for Saturday
FRANKFORT – The Kentucky State Police is teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Agency to encourage citizens to remove potentially dangerous medicines from their homes and dispose of them safely as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.
“Prescription medications play an important role in the health of millions of Americans,” KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders said in a statement. “However, leftover or expired drugs can be harmful in a variety of ways.”
Old or out-of-date medications can degrade and lose their effectiveness, Sanders said. They can also pose environmental pollution to water supplies if disposed of improperly.
“Unused medicines in homes can also be accidently ingested by children, stolen, misused and abused,” he warns.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming levels. According to the DEA, the majority of prescription drug abusers report that they get their drugs from friends and family including the home medicine cabinet.
“Cleaning out old prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers and beside tables can help reduce the diversion, misuse and abuse of these substances, including opioid painkillers,” Sanders said.
“Check your medications for expiration dates regularly and dispose of them properly,” he advised. “When in doubt, throw it out.”
During last year’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, citizens across the U.S. disposed of 447 tons of unneeded medications. Statewide, Kentucky had 50 collection sites totaling 9,752 pounds in 2016. KSP collected 946 pounds at 16 post area locations.
KSP has established 16 locations throughout Kentucky to serve as collection points for the safe, convenient and responsible disposal of unused or expired prescription drugs
KSP spokesperson Trooper. Josh Brashears advised that the program is designed to be easy for citizens and offered the following tips for those interested in participating:
● Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box located at the drop off location.
● All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers will be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in original containers. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
● Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
● Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.
For more information about the ‘Take Back’ program, contact KSP at 502-782-1780 or visit the DEA website at
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/
The program’s drop-off locations are:
POST 1
8366 State Route 45 North
Hickory, KY 42051
Phone: (270) 856-3721
POST 2
1000 Western KY Parkway
Nortonville, KY 42442
Phone: (270) 676-3313
POST 3
3119 Nashville Rd
Bowling Green, KY 42102
Phone: (270) 782-2010
POST 4
1055 North Mulberry
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
Phone: (270) 766-5078
POST 5
160 Citation Lane
Campbellsburg, KY 40011
Phone: (502) 532-6363
POST 6
4265 US 25 North
Dry Ridge, KY 41035
Phone: (859) 428-1212
POST 7
699 Eastern Bypass
Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: (859) 623-2404
POST 8
Morehead Police Dept.
105 East Main St.
Morehead, KY 40351
POST 9
3499 North Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
Phone: (606) 433-7711
POST 10
3319 US 421 South
Harlan, KY 40831
Phone: (606) 573-3131
POST 11
Laurel Co Health Dept
525 Whitley St.
London, KY 40741
Phone: (606) 878-6622
POST 12
1250 Louisville Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Phone: (502) 227-2221
POST 13
100 Justice Drive
Hazard, KY 41701
Phone: (606) 435-6069
POST 14
5975 State Route 60
Ashland, KY 41101
Phone: (606) 928-6421
POST 15
1118 Jamestown St
Columbia, KY 42728
Phone: (270) 384-4796
POST 16
8298 Keach Drive
Henderson, KY 42420
Phone: (270) 826-3312
when is the next pick up the meds