FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky State Police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are partnering on April 28, 2018 to encourage citizens to remove potentially dangerous medicines from their homes and dispose of them safely.
“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and health issue by providing a convenient way for citizens to help prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths,” says KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders.
“Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands,” he notes. “That’s dangerous and often tragic. This event gives people the opportunity to turn in their prescription drugs safely and anonymously.”
Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 16 locations throughout the state (see attached list). Locations are also listed on the KSP website at http://kentuckystatepolice.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018POSTTBL.pdf
Leftover or expired drugs can be harmful in a variety of ways, says Sanders. Out-of-date medications can degrade and lose their effectiveness. They can pose environmental pollution to water supplies if disposed of improperly. They can be accidently ingested by children, stolen, misused and abused.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
“Cleaning out old prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers and beside tables can help reduce the diversion, misuse and abuse of these substances, including opioid painkillers,” says Sanders. “When in doubt, throw it out.”
Last year, citizens across the U.S. safely disposed of 456 tons of unneeded medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. KSP collected 1,648 pounds during two take back events.
KSP spokesperson Sgt. Josh Lawson advised that the program is designed to be easy for citizens and offered the following tips for those interested in participating:
●Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box located at the drop off location.
●All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers will be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in original containers. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
●Intravenous solutions, injectables and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
●Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.
For more information about the Take Back program, contact KSP at 502-782-1780 or visit the DEA website at https://takebackday.dea.gov/
KSP ‘TAKE BACK’ LOCATIONS *all locations are at KSP Posts except those highlighted in yellow
POST 1 8366 State Route 45 North Hickory, KY 42051 Phone: (270) 856-3721
POST 2 1000 Western KY Parkway Nortonville, KY 42442 Phone: (270) 676-3313
POST 3 3119 Nashville Rd Bowling Green, KY 42102 Phone: (270) 782-2010
POST 4 1055 North Mulberry Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Phone: (270) 766-5078
POST 5 160 Citation Lane Campbellsburg, KY 40011 Phone: (502) 532-6363
POST 6 4265 US 25 North Dry Ridge, KY 41035 Phone: (859) 428-1212
POST 7 699 Eastern Bypass Richmond, KY 40475 Phone: (859) 623-2404
POST 8 Morehead Police Dept. 105 East Main St. Morehead, KY 40351
POST 9 3499 North Mayo Trail Pikeville, KY 41501 Phone: (606) 433-7711
POST 10 3319 US 421 South Harlan, KY 40831 Phone: (606) 573-3131
POST 11 Laurel Co Health Dept 525 Whitley St. London, KY 40741 Phone: (606) 878-6622
POST 12 1250 Louisville Road Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: (502) 227-2221
POST 13 100 Justice Drive Hazard, KY 41701 Phone: (606) 435-6069
POST 14 5975 State Route 60 Ashland, KY 41101 Phone: (606) 928-6421
POST 15 1118 Jamestown St Columbia, KY 42728 Phone: (270) 384-4796
POST 16 8298 Keach Drive Henderson, KY 42420 Phone: (270) 826-3312
