April 24 will be National DEA Drug Take Back Day and, in recognition of this day, community members can drop off unused medication at two local locations.

The two locations where medication can be dropped off are the Kroger parking lot, located at 548 Clinton Ave. in Washington C.H., and the new Fayette County Sheriff’s Office on Robinson Road in Washington C.H. Drug Take Back Day lasts from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

According to Dr. Shane Anderson LICDC-CS, OCPS II, director of Pathways and co-director of Drug Free Community, National Drug Take Back Day “aims to provide a safe place where people can drop off medication that can be properly disposed of.”

According to www.takebackday.dea.gov, “the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.”

During the Drug Take Back Day in October of last year, the website shows a total of 492.7 tons of medication was collected at a total of 4,587 collection sites. There were 4,153 law enforcement participants.

“I believe that taking part in the National Drug Take Back Day gives people opportunities to get rid of their unused medication while educating the community about proper medication use and proper disposal methods,” explained Anderson via email. “The past Drug Take Back days have been very successful. We hope to make this the best one ever.”

Reach journalist Jennifer Woods at 740-313-0355.