County collects more than 3,400 pounds of drugs for incineration
Officials advise to have prescription bottles on hand before drop off
Medications dropped off at City Hall or at Drug Take Back Day are taken to the DEA for incineration. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – Since September agents from the Medina County Drug Task Force have collected more than 3,446 pounds of unwanted or unused medication thanks to Medina County Drug Abuse Commission sponsored collection boxes located across the county as well as Drug Take Back Day initiatives at Wadsworth and Medina Township police stations.
“This gets the medication out of people’s homes and creates a safer environment,” said Drug Task Force Agent Tad Davis. “An elderly resident could have some expired medication sitting around or their doctor could have changed up the medicine and they accidently take the old medication instead. Or other drugs sitting around could be abused by friends or family members.”
While it is important not to leave these drugs lying around, throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet can have a harmful environmental impact.
Davis said the medications collected by the task force are sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration where they are incinerated.
“It is in a special incinerator and the method is EPA approved,” Davis said. “It’s almost magical to see it disposed of. These big pallets of medications are shoved in at one time then they close the doors and it incinerates almost immediately.”
While drug take back days have been popular, Davis reminds residents that they can dispose of drugs at almost any time by using one of 13 disposal boxes placed around the county including the one located at Wadsworth City Hall.
“I worked the Wadsworth site for the drug take back day on Saturday and people were saying they were glad they got here in time because they didn’t want to miss it,” Davis said, adding that it was a good time to remind them about the drop box.
When dropping off medication, many individuals don’t want to include their personal or prescription information – which is fine. The medication can be dropped off in unmarked plastic bags.
“Technically, if an individual possesses prescription medication without the ability to provide evidence of a valid prescription, that could be a violation,” Wadsworth Safety Director Matt Hiscock said. “As a result it’s not a bad idea to bring the medication in its corresponding container.”
“The best practice would be to wait until they arrive at the drop off location before transferring them into a plastic bag,” Wadsworth Lt. Dave Dorland said. “As long as they are driving a short distance directly to the drop off location it should not be a problem if they are stopped by police, but in any case it is better to be safe than sorry.”
“This gets the medication out of people’s homes and creates a safer environment,” said Drug Task Force Agent Tad Davis. “An elderly resident could have some expired medication sitting around or their doctor could have changed up the medicine and they accidently take the old medication instead. Or other drugs sitting around could be abused by friends or family members.”
While it is important not to leave these drugs lying around, throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet can have a harmful environmental impact.
Davis said the medications collected by the task force are sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration where they are incinerated.
“It is in a special incinerator and the method is EPA approved,” Davis said. “It’s almost magical to see it disposed of. These big pallets of medications are shoved in at one time then they close the doors and it incinerates almost immediately.”
While drug take back days have been popular, Davis reminds residents that they can dispose of drugs at almost any time by using one of 13 disposal boxes placed around the county including the one located at Wadsworth City Hall.
“I worked the Wadsworth site for the drug take back day on Saturday and people were saying they were glad they got here in time because they didn’t want to miss it,” Davis said, adding that it was a good time to remind them about the drop box.
When dropping off medication, many individuals don’t want to include their personal or prescription information – which is fine. The medication can be dropped off in unmarked plastic bags.
“Technically, if an individual possesses prescription medication without the ability to provide evidence of a valid prescription, that could be a violation,” Wadsworth Safety Director Matt Hiscock said. “As a result it’s not a bad idea to bring the medication in its corresponding container.”
“The best practice would be to wait until they arrive at the drop off location before transferring them into a plastic bag,” Wadsworth Lt. Dave Dorland said. “As long as they are driving a short distance directly to the drop off location it should not be a problem if they are stopped by police, but in any case it is better to be safe than sorry.”
