The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is set for April 29 across the nation.
The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration and aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. Another goal is educating the public about the potential for medication abuse.
Captain Terri Hook of the Oneida County Sheriff's Department talks about some of the local collections....
"....area law enforcement will be setting up collection points at the Rhinelander Police Department, the Minocqua Police Department, the Oneida County Landfill and the Three Lakes town hall to collect unused, unneeded prescription medications...."
The collection is done anonymously, as the meds are dumped in a box and you take the bottle back with you....
".....prescription medications have become an issue with law enforcement as far as people breaking into homes to get these kinds of medications or stealing from family members, people with some kind of addiction...."
Captain Hook says all waste drugs can only be brought in from households, not businesses. She says bring in prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, creams, and pet medications.
She says don't bring in illegal drugs, sharps or needles, mercury thermometers, flares, personal care products or household hazardous waste.
The Take Back at the Oneida County sites are from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There's a link about the day here.
