Drug Take Back Day On Saturday, Oct. 26
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The next Mercer County Drug Take Back Day will be Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Mercer County Fiscal Court Building (207 West Lexington Street).
Participants are encouraged to bring all their unwanted, unknown, unused or expired prescription (narcotic and non-narcotic) or over the counter medicines for safe disposal, including pills, salves and liquid medicines. The medicines should be kept in their original containers if at all possible and not combined. They are advised to remove any identifying information from the containers. No refunds or exchanges will be permitted, and sharps, needles, I.V. bags, lancets, medical waste and thermometers cannot be accepted.
The Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means for disposing of prescription and non-prescription drugs while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications
Drug take back programs are being held all over America for four important reasons:
• Inappropriate disposal may pose a significant risk to the public and the environment.
• There is an increased incidence of theft from homes and residential trash, resulting in drug diversion and abuse.
• More children are being seen in hospital emergency departments who have experimented with drugs found in medicine cabinets where they live and/or visit.
• Patients often share their medications with other individuals in the absence of any pharmacist or medical supervision resulting in illness, injury or death.
The event is sponsored by Mercer County Crime Stoppers, Hometown Radio WHBN, the Mercer County Sheriffs Office, the Harrodsburg Herald and Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital.
“Please help the sponsoring organizations reduce the supply of these drugs in our community” said Earl Motzer, chairman of the Mercer County Crime Stoppers Board.
