Sheriff Lutz releases numbers from drug take back program

ZANESVILLE, Ohio- As the opioid epidemic continues to rise, officials in Muskingum County are working to combat the problem through a prescription drug drop off. Today, the Sheriff’s Office released numbers from the latest drug take back day.

Twice a year, a prescription drug take back is held in the county. This gives residents the opportunity to get rid of unwanted and unneeded prescription drugs. Sheriff Matt Lutz said 151 pounds of medication was collected during the take back in April with numbers increasing in the October take back.

“When you look at October we did even more. We did 168 pounds and then we did 207 vehicles. And so both of those numbers were higher than any of the previous years that we did.”

Lutz said the program is proving to be successful and will continue as long as the DEA is on board. He also talked about the importance of having a location where people can drop off prescription meds at anytime.

“Out of this deal, out of this take back day, we kind of came up with the idea of having a permanent site. And so, there is a permanent drug take back box that was established out of this event and it is in my jail lobby.”

The permanent location is at the Muskingum County Jail located at 28 N 4th Street and is open 24/7. Unlike the drug take back, the jail only takes pills. No word yet on a date for the next drug take back day.