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Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency are partnering on Saturday, Oct. 26 to encourage the state's residents to remove potentially dangerous medicines from their homes and dispose of them safely. This will be the 18th National Drug Take Back Day, a campaign resulting in millions of pounds of opioids and other medicines gathered, reducing possible drug misuse, a state news release said.

For the first time, the DEA and partnering law enforcement agencies will be accepting vaping devices and cartridges at any drop off location during National Take Back Day. These devices cannot contain lithium ion batteries. With the rising concerns of "vaping-linked" illness and death across the United States, this effort will promote a healthier lifestyle in a safe disposal of vaping devices and substances. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there was at least 1,479 lung injury cases reported across every state but Alaska, all connecting to the use of e-cigarette, or vaping products. Thirty-three deaths from these products have been confirmed nationally.

Collection activities will take place from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at 16 locations throughout the state. Below is the list of locations across the state: 


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 (1 of 2)

Morehead Police Dept.

105 East Main St.

Morehead, KY 40351


Post 8 (2 of 2)

Walmart

200 Walmart Way

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) 384-4796Post 16

8298 Keach Drive

Henderson, KY 42420

Phone: (270) 826-3312 

According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

In April of this year, citizens across the U.S. safely disposed of nearly 470 tons of unneeded medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Kentucky alone collected 13,457 pounds of unwanted/unused prescription drugs.

KSP spokesperson Sgt. Josh Lawson 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://takebackday.dea.gov/

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Date: 10-23-2019

 

Kentucky Press News Service


 

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