Drug Take-Back Event Collects More Then 116 Pounds of Pills

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — More than 116 pounds of pills were collected during a prescription drug take-back event at the Muskingum County Health Department, giving residents a safe and convenient way to dispose of medications they no longer need.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and allowed residents to drop off old prescriptions without leaving their vehicles, making the process easier for the community.

Blade Lentz, a pharmacist with Genesis, said the event saw a large turnout, with organizers filling both of their hazardous waste containers and having to find other solutions to accommodate the number of people arriving.

“It’s been busy,” Lentz said. “We filled up both of our hazardous containers.”

Lentz said the event gave residents a place to bring medications they no longer use, including prescriptions left behind after a loved one passes away. It also provided an opportunity for people who were unsure how to dispose of sharps and other medical waste to find a safer option.

“A great day for people to take back medications,” Lentz said. “If they have a loved one who passed away, they don’t know what to do with medications.”

The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Genesis partnered with the health department to host the event.