Drug Takeback Day offers safe disposal
Tuscarawas County will provide residents with two drop-off locations for unwanted medications as part of a national drug-takeback event on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Drug Takeback Day offers a safe, confidential method to dispose of old, unwanted medications so they don’t fall into the wrong hands or pollute the water supply.
Anybody wishing to safely dispose of prescription or nonprescription medications may bring those items to the main entrance at Trinity Health System, Trinity Medical Center, 819 N. First St., Dennison, or to the south entrance of Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital at Dover, just off the boulevard.
Expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications should not be left sitting in a medicine cabinet or kitchen drawer.
A deputy from the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office will be at each hospital to accept the medications for proper disposal. The Drug Takeback Day program is completely anonymous, and no name or ID will be requested.
Medication containers should be placed in a transparent plastic bag. Those in their original prescription bottles may have the patient’s name on the label blacked out if desired. Officials at each location will not accept any needles, liquids or any peroxide-based medications at this event.
Drug Takeback Day can help keep potentially dangerous medications out of the hands of children and reduce drug abuse and theft of drugs from homes. Disposal of unwanted medications in this manner also will protect the environment by keeping powerful drugs out of the sewer systems and groundwater.
Drug Takeback Day is a cooperative effort involving the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office, the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District, Empower Tusc and the two drop-off locations.
In addition to the Drug Takeback Day event, outdated and unwanted medications may be taken any time of the day or night to the lobby of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office at 2295 Reiser Ave. SE in New Philadelphia and to other area police departments. Call 330-339-2000.
Details about Empower Tusc can be found on its website at www.empowertusc.com or by calling 330-440-7320.