Sheriff’s office to collect unused drugs April 29

LYNDON, Kan. – The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is joining other law enforcement officials across the state in collecting unused leftover medications for safe disposal on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 29, 2017. The Osage County collection will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, at the sheriff’s office, 131 W. 14th St., Lyndon.

The collection events are part of a nationwide effort to safely dispose of leftover medications to prevent accidental or intentional misuse. The National Drug Take-Back Day is coordinated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, which collects and safely destroys the medications.

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose potential safety and health hazards and should be avoided.

Unused prescriptions can be turned in year-round at many local law enforcement locations. Kansans should contact their local sheriff’s office or police department for more information. Click here www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ for more information about the DEA’s National Drug Take-Back Day.