(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and representatives from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio today unveiled an electronic billboard PSA campaign to remind Ohioans to dispose of unused and expired medications on National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011.
"Overdoses from prescription drugs are killing four Ohioans every day. This is a tragic number. We are working hard to get prescription drugs off of our streets and one of the ways Ohioans can help is to get unused and expired medicines out of the house and disposed of properly," said Attorney General Mike DeWine.
Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. is National Drug Take Back Day. Ohioans from across the state can go to www.dea.gov to find a location near them where they can safely dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. The DEA is partnering with agents from the Ohio Attorney General's Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to provide law enforcement personnel to assist at drop off locations.
"Getting the word out about Drug Take Back Day is very important, and I am pleased that the DEA is partnering with the Attorney General and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio on this effort," said Kenneth Etchison, Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. DEA.
Members of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio have donated 8-second PSA spots in the rotations of their electronic billboards at locations throughout Ohio including: Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Heath, Lima, Mansfield, Newark, Toledo, Youngstown, and Zanesville.
"We are pleased that our members can help get the word out to their communities about Drug Take Back Day," said Brian Conley, President of the Outdoor Advertising Association of Ohio. "These types of PSAs can make a real difference in the fight against prescription drug abuse."
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Documents
List of PSA Billboard Locations
Media Contacts:
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840