Meds safely disposed of at Drug Take Back Day

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – In an effort to make sure all drugs are disposed of properly the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department accepted hundreds of expired and unwanted drugs on Saturday.

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Twice a year the Health Department, Muskingum Behavioral Health, the Muskingum County Sherriff’s Office, Genesis, and Northside Pharmacies holds their Drug Take Back Day. Steve Carrel with Muskingum Behavioral Health warns that you should never try to get rid of your prescription drugs on your own.

“Too many people flush their meds, or bury them, or put them in the trash,” said Carrel. “Some medication is detectable in our water supply and that scares me. And the more we keep flushing the more it’s going to keep showing up.”

Within their first two hours they had taken drugs from over 80 different cars that came to drop them off. Carrel said after they collect the drugs they go to certain agencies to be taken care of.

“Those that are not controlled substances, Northside Pharmacy will bag and tag those. Those will go to the Sheriff’s Office. A Northside licensed courier will pick those up for incineration. The controlled substances, the DEA will pick up and they’ll take them for incineration.

Carrel says you can always drop off your expired medication at anytime a 24-7 drop box at the County Jail on Fourth Street.