(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that residents have disposed of more than 12 tons of unwanted prescription drugs by using drop boxes provided by the Attorney General's Office, Ohio Department of Health, and Drug Free Action Alliance.
The secure, mailbox-style disposal bins were provided to more than 60 law enforcement agencies in October 2012 as part of the Ohio Prescription Drug Drop Box Program.
During the first year of collection, residents disposed of 4.4 tons (8,841 pounds) of pills. This year, residents discarded at least 8.4 tons (16,910 pounds) of unneeded prescription medications.
"I'm very happy to see such a large increase in disposals between the first and second year of the program," said Attorney General DeWine. "This shows that more and more Ohioans are realizing the importance of properly disposing of unneeded prescription drugs. By taking the simple step of dropping unwanted prescriptions into a drop box, residents are ensuring that their medications will never fall into the hands of someone who will divert, misuse, or abuse them."
According to data released earlier this year by the Ohio Department of Health, there were 697 deaths from unintended prescription opiate overdoses in 2012.
The use of drop boxes also helps the environment by ensuring that the drugs do not pollute waterways after being flushed down a toilet or dumped down a drain. All drugs discarded by way of the drop boxes are safely and securely destroyed by each law enforcement agency.
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Related Pages
Prescription Drug Drop Box Locations
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840