A national medication disposal day is happening this weekend across Kentucky. The Drug Enforcement Agency’s Drug Take Back Day is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Lexington Police Department is hosting a site at the Kentucky American Water Company on Richmond Road.
Lieutenant Corey Doane with Lexington Police said keeping unwanted or expired medication in the home can be hazardous.
“As we know, we don’t want it just kind of sitting in the cabinet and the potential for kids, or pets or animals or someone thinking they’re taking something that they aren’t. The reason for all this was trying to find a safe way for that to happen,” said Doane.
Lt. Doane said each year hundreds of pounds of unwanted or expired drugs are collected.
The law enforcement official explained that agencies across the state have tried to make disposal simple.
“People can show up, turn in their unwanted medication. It’s all anonymous as they pull up. There’s no one asking for IDs or anything like that. It’s trying to make it as easy as possible for people,” said Doane.
Medications that will be accepted include prescription and over-the-counter pills, vitamins, medicated ointments and lotions and pet medication.
The department will not take back liquids, aerosols, needles or other sharps.
There are at least 80 drop off locations across Kentucky. Additional sites can be found at dea.gov.
In a sea of partisan news, WEKU is your source for public service, fact-based journalism. Monthly sustaining donors are the top source of funding for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU by making your donation.
