Marion General Hospital Pharmacy Intern Megan Root checks medication with Deputy Williams during the Spring 2013 collection.
If you have old, outdated prescriptions in your home, several agencies are coming together on Saturday, October 26, for their sixth Medication Disposal Day, providing a safe opportunity to get rid of them. The drive thru drop off will be held behind the Marion County Building on the corner of West Center and Oak Streets from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
You don’t have to even get out of your vehicle and there will be no questions asked.
The collaborative effort is organized by Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Marion General Hospital, Marion City Police Department and the Crawford-Marion ADAMH Board.
During the last collection, held in the spring, a wide range of items were turned in including liquids, syringes and needles, pills, medicated jell and patches, according to Angela Carbetta, Director of Recycling and Litter Prevention.
“Outdated and unused medication poses a danger in your home, and when improperly discarded, contaminates our soil and water supplies with a dangerous blend of chemicals,” stated Carbetta. “We are happy to note that citizens take this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets dispose of items properly.”
Law enforcement officers from the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and Marion Police department will collect the medication while volunteers from the ADAMH board and Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention will distribute educational material to those bringing in medications. All medicine will be sent to a waste facility for secure incineration.
“This event is an important way to remind people that they can dispose of medication safely,” said Major Aaron Corwin of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. “We also want everyone to know we have permanent medication collection boxes at the Sheriff’s Department and the Marion City Police department. They are available 365 days a year for people to drop off unused prescription pills.”
Corwin further stated that prescription medications represent a significant drug threats in the community, along with heroin, cocaine and other substances. Opiate-based medication like oxycodone is highly abused.
“In fact, 70 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers obtain the drugs from friends or relatives, sometimes with permission,” stated Corwin. “This is considered drug diversion and contributes to a growing health and safety problem.”
As mentioned, if you can’t attend the event on Saturday, you can also drop off your old prescriptions at the Marion County Sheriff’s office on Marion-Williamsport Road or the Marion Police Department at City Hall on West Center Street (go in the front door and they’ll have an officer come out to meet you). Again, no questions will be asked as the main desire is to ensure these medications are unavailable for abuse.
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