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