Drug Take Back Day keeping unused drugs out of households

Source: http://www.wtol.com

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Thousands of unused drugs are now off the shelves of people's medicine cabinets and are safely disposed of throughout northwest Ohio as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday.

The bi-annual event aims to keep prescription medications out of the water system and out of the hands of people for whom they could lead to misuse or abuse.

During the event people are invited to drop off the unused medications at participating pharmacies, hospitals, and police stations where they can be properly disposed of.

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports more than 16 million people misuse prescriptions each year and while drug abuse has declined over 13 percent since 2015 there is still work to be done.

Pharmacist Zach Urim, who is a manager at the Kroger pharmacy on Suder Rd. in Point Place says removing drugs from medicine cabinets can cut down on their abuse.

"A very common way that addiction or misuse could happen is because it is experimented with, because it is left at home. So being able to take that out of the home and properly disposed is very important," said Urim.

Since 2009, the initiative has removed more than 17.9 million pounds of unneeded medications from communities across the country according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Drug Take Back Day happens twice a year but you can drop off your unwanted drugs year-round at over 13,000 locations around the country. Click here to find the closest location to you.