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PARKERSBURG - Multiple Mid-Ohio Valley law enforcement agencies will be participating Saturday in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., DEA and law enforcement partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs at more than 65 sites throughout West Virginia, according to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Moore Capito.
There are numerous sites across Ohio as well. A collection site locator can be found at www.DEATakeBack.com. All sites will accept old, unwanted, and expired prescription medications for free and anonymous disposal.
"Drug Take Back Day is a critical opportunity to anonymously remove dangerous, unused prescription drugs from our homes before they end up in the wrong hands," Capito said in the release. "Law enforcement is sounding the alarm: every pill not turned in is a risk to our community. By acting now, we can stop misuse before it starts and keep these drugs off our streets. Your quick, anonymous action today can help save lives."
Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps or illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain tightly sealed in their original container to prevent leakage.
In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 20.4 million pounds (10,200 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception, the release said. The total includes 149,901 pounds collected in West Virginia, with 4,063 pounds of that disposed of during the previous Take Back Day on April 25.
Local collection sites include:
* Caldwell - Caldwell Food Center Emporium, 110 Olive St.
* Kenna - Kenna Volunteer Fire Department, 9015 Charleston Road, Ripley.
* Lubeck - Lubeck Volunteer Fire Department, 1340 Harris Highway, Parkersburg.
* Marietta - Marietta Police Department, 301 Putnam St.
* McConnelsville - Morgan County Sheriff's Office, 37 E. Main St.
* Mineral Wells - Mineral Wells Volunteer Fire Department, 1695 Elizabeth Pike.
* Ravenswood - Ravenswood Volunteer Fire Department, 333 Virginia St.
* Ripley - Kroger, 106 McGraw St.
* St. Marys - Phillips Pharmacy, 329 Second St.
* Sistersville - Sistersville Pharmacy, 312 Diamond St.
* Vienna - Vienna Fire Department, 609 28th St.
* Waverly - Waverly Volunteer Fire Department, 15425 Emerson Ave.
* Williamstown - Williamstown Police Department, 100 W. Fifth St.