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Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday

Collection points located around Mid-Ohio Valley

PARKERSBURG — National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s biannual effort to prevent leftover medication from being misused, is Saturday, with collection events throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Wood County Sheriff’s Lt. R.A. George said the goal of the event is “getting some of these old prescription drugs back off the streets (and) out of the hands of kids and people that shouldn’t have them.”

In many cases, people just aren’t sure what to do with a prescription they didn’t finish or medication for a loved one who has passed away, he said.

People can bring any prescription drug, as well as vape pens with batteries removed, to be safely disposed of by law enforcement, George said. Needles and other sharp implements will not be accepted.

“This is a very important event,” West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a release announcing his own office’s efforts in Charleston. “I encourage anyone who has unused or unwanted prescription medications to participate so we can get potentially dangerous drugs off the streets. Take Back Day has the potential to both reduce diversion of prescription opioids and help identify overprescribing in our state.”

The DEA spearheads Drug Take Back Day, which was launched in 2010. During the event, local and state law enforcement agencies collect unused medication and responsibly dispose of it. The DEA typically hosts two prescription drug take back days per year with one in the spring and one in the fall.

Medication can be taken to one of the following locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, according to www.dea.gov/takebackday#collection-locator:

WOOD COUNTY

* Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department, 1695 Elizabeth Pike, Mineral Wells.

* Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department, 1340 Harris Highway, Parkersburg.

* Wood County Justice Center, 401 Second St., Parkersburg.

* Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 604 29th St., Vienna.

* Waverly Volunteer Fire Department, 15425 Emerson Ave., Waverly.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

* Walmart Pharmacy entrance, 804 Pike St., Marietta.

CALHOUN COUNTY

* Calhoun County Courthouse, 363 Main St., Grantsville.

DODDRIDGE COUNTY

* Doddridge County Sheriff’s Department, 135 Court St., West Union.

* West Union Police Department, 178 Court St., West Union.

JACKSON COUNTY

* Southern Jackson County Volunteer Fire Department, West Virginia 21 at Pleasant Valley Road, Kenna.

* Ravenswood City Hall, 1 Wall St., Ravenswood.

* Walgreens, 635 Main St., Ripley.

PLEASANTS COUNTY

* Phillips Pharmacy, 329 Second St., St. Marys.

TYLER COUNTY

* Tyler County Sheriff’s Office, 10 Pleasant View Drive, Sistersville.

WETZEL COUNTY

* New Martinsville Fire Department, 400 Ohio St., New Martinsville.

In addition to the special Take Back Day events, the Parkersburg Police Department accepts medication year-round in a drop box in the hallway on the third of the Municipal Building.

“We have one that’s operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Police Chief Matthew Board said.

More information and collection sites can be found online at www.dea.gov/takebackday.

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