Drug Take Back this weekend

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By Portia Williams

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The Greenup County Health Department (GCHD) will partner with the Kentucky State Police (KSP) to host a Take Back event on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the parking lot of the GCHD in Greenup, Ky. The prescription drug Take Back event allows people to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications.

According to the GCHD, the Take Back is an anonymous service in which everything collected is boxed up and taken for incineration by the KSP. Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because of accidental ingestion, misuse, and abuse.

GCHD Director Chris Crum said the Take Back event is a safe alternative for proper disposal of prescription drugs.

“This safe option for disposal of prescription drugs not only helps keep our residents safe from criminal activity, the program also keeps harmful chemicals from entering into our water supply, which has an effect on the entire county,” Crum said.

According to the most recent National Survey on drug use and health rates of drug abuse in the United States, more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined. The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets, according to surveys of users.

Officials from GCHD said no glass containers, inhalers, intra-venous solutions or syringes can be collected during the Take Back. All other prescription and over the counter medications as well as supplements can be turned in as well.

For more information regarding the Take Back event, contact Cassie Mace of the GCHD at 606-473-9838.

Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.

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