The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosts the National Drug Take Back Day twice a year to help get unneeded prescriptions out of homes and hands of individuals, and to help prevent drug misuse.
The DEA is preparing to host the first drug take back day of 2022 on April 30. The New Concord Police Department participates in this event both in April and October each year.
New Concord Police Chief Mindy Peck
New Concord Police Chief Mindy Peck will be entering her ninth National Drug Take Back Day with the New Concord Police Department.
“Anytime we can get unused medications and eliminate overdoses or eliminate those unwanted medications from being flushed or discarded unsafely, we do it,” said Peck.
During the October 2021 drug take back day, Peck had a goal of collecting more than six boxes of unwanted medication to surpass the April 2021 take back day. Peck said October 2021 take back day was the second lowest outcome the village has had since 2016, and the village collected one box.
The safe medication disposal box located at Village Hall is available for drug disposal.
“I don’t know if that was because of COVID-19 or what, so I’m hoping for more. Just one box though means that many less [medications] in homes and in cabinets,” said Peck.
Although the National Drug Take Back Day is only twice a year, the New Concord Police Department has an unwanted drug drop-off box located at Village Hall. Muskingum County Residents can utilize that box Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The New Concord Police Department was one of 4,276 law enforcement operations nationally to participate in October. New Concord was one of 278 collection sites in Ohio, and the department collected one box.
Nationally, there were 744,082 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs collected, equaling 372 tons. The state of Ohio collected the second most amount of unwanted prescription drugs, 44,746 pounds, and just behind Ohio with 41,970 pounds was California. Texas collected the most pounds, tallying up to 55,749.
There has been a total of 15,286,473 pounds of prescription drugs collected over the last 21 drug take back days, over the last 12 years.
The New Concord location will accept drugs, including pills, liquids, bottles, vape pens, and e-cigarettes.
There will be no sharps or needles accepted by the New Concord Police Department. People wanting to discard unwanted sharps and needles can visit the Muskingum County Health Department.
“I think that having our police department take the imitative on this opportunity shows their commitment to health and safety of our community. This is a helpful opportunity for residents to help with this important ant topic. It is so easy to come down to main street to help make sure these medications are discarded safely,” said New Concord Mayor, Jennifer Lyle.
Those wanting to discard unwanted prescription drugs should go to Village Hall, located at 2 West Main Street, on April 30, between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
