MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations throughout Monongalia County.
In Monongalia County, unwanted or expired prescription drugs can be dropped off at Kroger locations, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, Pierpont Landing Pharmacy, Mon General Hospital, and Heritage Point.
Public Information Officer for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Kevin McWilliams, said more than 100,000 Americans die every year due to poisoning or accidental overdose.
“Reports from SAMSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, indicate the majority of people who misuse prescription medication got that medication from a family member or a friend.”
McWilliams said items that will not be accepted are sharps, syringes, or illicit substances.
“Tablets, capsules, patches, any form of prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications that have expired,” McWilliams said. “We’ll take liquids and cough syrup as long as they are sealed in their original containers.”
McWilliams emphasized that this is the proper and simple way to dispose of the items to protect families and the environment.
“A lot of people think it’s ok to flush medications down the toilet; we don’t want to do that, and we don’t want a bunch of drugs in the lanyard that could infiltrate into the drinking water as well,” McWilliams said.
During the spring event, more than 8.5 tons of unwanted or expired medication were collected nationwide.
“If you’ve got anything in your house you don’t need, it’s a good time to get rid of those items so they don’t fall into the wrong hands,” McWilliams said.