Friday, September 24, 2010
Flushing prescription drugs down the toilet or throwing them away can pose a health hazard that a national group is hoping to highlight with a Saturday event in Wichita.
Prescription drugs, expired medications and over-the-counter drugs need to be properly disposed of in hazardous waste bins. But many people don't know where to go to throw the medications away. On Saturday, September 25th, the National Take-Back Initiative will coordinate with state and local law enforcement agencies to provide ways to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our medicine chests.
The one-day event is an effort to bring national focus to the issue that pharmacists say is becoming an increasing problem. Many people who use medications think local pharmacies will take back unused drugs. But controlled substances, like painkillers, are not taken anywhere in Wichita. That's why sheriff deputies will set up boxes during the initiative to provide a place to dispose of the drugs. Officers say it is a better solution then leaving them in the house.
"If a parent leaves them in the cabinet, it gives a teenager ready access to prescription drugs and that starts them off at an early age to abuse drugs," said Sedgwick County Sheriff's Sergeant Scott Plummer.
People can dispose of any unwanted drugs and controlled substances Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sedgwick County deputies will be at three drop off locations - Sedgwick County Zoo at 5500 W. Zoo Blvd, Household Hazardous Waste facility at 801 W. Stillwell, and Oaklawn Activity Center at 4904 S. Clifton.
Drop-off locations are:
Sedgwick County Zoo
5500 W. Zoo Blvd
Wichita
Household Hazardous Waste
801 W. Stillwell St
Wichita
Oaklawn Activity Center
4904 S. Clifton
Wichita
Emporia
Lyon County Fairgrounds
Hays
Ellis County Law Enforcement Center
105 W 12th
Hugoton
Stevens Co Law Enforcement Center
505 S. Monroe
Salina
251 N. 10th Street
Maize
10100 W. Grady Avenue
Bel Aire
Bel Aire Community Center
7651 e. Central Park
Wichita Police
350 S. Edgemoor
Garden City
Wal Mart
3101 E. Kansas Ave.
El Dorado
Wal Mart
Central & South Village Road.
The drugs can be dropped of, no questions asked. Once the boxes are filled, they will be shipped out of state.
