Tyler County Sheriff Bob Kendle and Melody Glasscock of the Family Resource Network have partnered up with the DEA to take part in the first-ever national ‘take back day’ designed to aid the public in the proper disposal of unwanted and outdated prescription drugs. This event will take place at the Middlebourne VFD on Sept. 25 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The Tyler County Drug Enforcement Taskforce and the Family Resource Network are teaming up to take part in a national initiative to help residents dispose of their outdated and unused prescriptions drugs.

Because over-prescribed and under-consumed, prescription drugs are generating both environmental and law enforcement problems, a national ‘take-back day’ has been slated for Sept. 25 and is intended to heighten awareness of this important issue.

The DEA coordinated the first-ever collaborative effort with the state and local law enforcement agencies to focus on removing potentially dangerous controlled substances from resident’s medicine cabinets.The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.

“Prescription drugs are one of the biggest drug problems here in Tyler County,” said Tyler County Sheriff Bob Kendle. “People get them from family members, sometimes without the family member’s knowledge.”

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away both potential safety and health hazards.

All medicines including controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances may be collected.

This program is anonymous and all efforts will be made to protect the anonymity of individuals disposing of medications. No questions or requests for identification will be made.

Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual should be encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.

All solid dosage pharmaceutical product and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.

Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.

Sheriff Kendle wants to stress to the community the importance of bringing in their prescriptions to be destroyed. “If you have unwanted or outdated prescription drugs, please bring them in to be disposed of properly,” he said.

Residents should take their unused and outdated prescription drugs to the Middlebourne Volunteer Fire Department from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.

For more information, visit www.dea.gov or call the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office at 304-758-4229.