Local Law Enforcement Taking Back Drugs Saturday

04/29/2011
Area residents are encouraged to clean out your medicine cabinets while you're doing your spring cleaning this week.
Local law enforcement and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are teaming up to take part in "Operation Take Back" on Saturday. DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner explains that several local agencies are hosting the first ever county wide program aimed at properly disposing of expired or unused medication. He says officers will be stationed throughout DeWitt County Saturday to give residents the opportunity to turn in old medications.
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The special event is a one day expansion of the City of Clinton's "Prescription Pill Drug Disposal" program, or P2D2. Police Chief Mike Reidy notes response to the city's year old program has been outstanding, and sees Saturday's collection as a way of reaching other local communities. He says the program not only keeps the medications out of landfills, but also out of the hands of potential abusers.
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Both Reidy and Shofner agree that abuse of prescription drugs is by far the most common form of drug abuse in the county. The sheriff says local instances of prescription drug abuse are on the rise, as are related crimes linked to prescription drugs.
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All unwanted or expired medications will be accepted as part of Saturday's "Take Back" effort. Officers at the Clinton Police Department will host a drive-up and drop off program from 8am until 12pm. The Farmer City Police Department will be a collection point from 12pm-4pm. The DeWitt County Sheriff's Department will have deputies stationed from 12pm-4pm Saturday at collection points at the fire departments in Wapella, Weldon, Waynesville, and Kenney.
The medications collected will then be turned over to the DEA for proper disposal.