Ohioians dispose of more than 16 tons of pills during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today thanked Ohioans for properly disposing of an estimated 16.6 tons (33,261 pounds) of unneeded, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs during the most recent National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which was held on April 29, 2017.

While prescription drugs obviously benefit millions of people each year, many people suffer side effects that leave them needing to go to Drug Guardians for compensation, others get addicted to the drugs and some consume out of date medication from previous prescriptions. All of these issues are brought to light on Drug Take Back Day. The DEA’s National Initiative 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.

“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.”

“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.”

Those who are still in possession of unneeded prescription drugs can drop them off at one of several prescription drug drop box locations across the state. A list of locations of prescription drug drop boxes provided by the Attorney General’s Office, Ohio Department of Health, and Drug Free Action Alliance is available on the Ohio Attorney General’s website.