Operation: Medicine Cabinet returns Oct. 29
The Drug Enforcement Administration, in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies, Drug Awareness and Prevention Inc., county Boards of Health, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and local action groups has organized a joint event: Operation: Medicine Cabinet (OMC) and the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event will occur on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at locations throughout northeast Ohio, including the Bay Village police station, 28000 Wolf Rd., and the Westlake police station, 27300 Hilliard Blvd.
Together, the partners’ goal is to help residents in northeast Ohio safely dispose of any outdated or unwanted prescription medications. Last May, the event collected over 9,000 pounds of unwanted or expired medications.
This completely confidential program will allow adult family members to visit any listed location, where law enforcement officers will collect and hold all medications. After the medications are collected, they will be weighed by the Drug Enforcement Administration before they are destroyed.
“I have too often seen the devastating effects on our young people who are abusing pharmaceutical medications," said Special Agent Jeff Capretto of the Westshore Enforcement Bureau Drug Task Force. "OMC affords us a proactive opportunity to not only dispose of these very dangerous unused drugs safely, but also to educate our residents of the seriousness of this issue.”
"Flushing unused or expired medications into the sewer system is the least desirable way to dispose of any drug," stated Scott Broski, Manager of Water Quality & Industrial Surveillance for the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District. "If you flush them down the drain or toilet, some of the pharmaceuticals will be discharged into the lake or river because the wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove or destroy pharmaceuticals from wastewater. The resulting environmental issues could be as varied and diverse as the number of medications in use."