Walgreens employee Robin Baker, who volunteered at Drug Drop-off Day, stands near some of the prescription medication collected at the event.
County Coroner Leon Hurlburt named the third Huntington County Drug Drop-off Day a success after the event doubled the amount of outdated or unwanted prescription medications collected last year.
“We collected $800,000 retail value of prescription medication. We filled eight 55-gallon drums,” Hurlburt said. “The sharps – the needles and so forth – we had 20 gallons of those.”
The drug drop-off, which took place last Saturday at Hier’s Park, was a combined effort of the County Coroner’s Office, the Huntington County Solid Waste Management District and the County Health Department to stem prescription drug abuse and protect the environment by safely disposing of unwanted or outdated medications.
“We’re extremely happy with the turnout and how the residents are willing to step up. Three years ago people didn’t realize that prescription drugs are a major drug problem. They are the drug problem in Huntington County,” Hurlburt said, explaining a recent police drug bust ended with 28 arrests – all for prescription medication. “The other thing is people have become a lot more aware that it’s not good for the environment to dispose of prescription drugs in the trash or by flushing them.”
Hurlburt said 20 gallons of the collected medication, which arrived prior to its expiration date and still sealed in the original packaging, will be donated to the Free Health Clinic at Trinity United Methodist Church.
“I’m just glad to see everyone has come forward and taken the time to dispose of things properly,” Hurlburt said, noting that anyone who still has unwanted prescription drugs can drop them off between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at either the County Sheriff’s Department, 332 E. State Street or the County Health Department
in the Courthouse Annex, 354 N. Jefferson Street.
Hurlburt said a third year-round drug drop-off point will be opened at the City Building on Cherry Street later this year.
Walgreens employee Robin Baker, who volunteered at Drug Drop-off Day, examines a bottle of prescription medicine. County Coroner Leon Hurlburt said residents dropped off $800,000 worth of medication which doubled the amount from last year's event.
Recent Comments