Drug “Take Back Day” to Take Place Saturday, April 30th

Help keep our community safe and healthy by disposing of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs

Richmond, KY – Keeping leftover prescription pills or handing a few off to a friend or loved one who asks may seem harmless, but the consequences can be disastrous and sometimes deadly.  In recognition of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Kentucky State Police Post 7, the Berea Police Department, and Richmond Police Department, in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has partnered with the Madison Opioid Response and Empowerment (MORE) program to host a prescription drug take back event on Saturday, April 30, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  This service is safe, free, confidential, anonymous, environmentally friendly, and most importantly could save a life.

Drop off locations include Kentucky State Police Post 7 located at 699 Eastern Bypass in Richmond, Richmond Police Department located at 1721 Lexington Road, and Berea Police Department located at 212 Chestnut Street.

Residents can safely dispose of tablets, capsules, patches, other solid forms of prescription drugs and vape pens or other e-cigarettes after the batteries are removed from the devices. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

Medicines that deteriorate in home medicine cabinets are highly vulnerable to misuse, abuse and theft.  Helping people dispose of these potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way MORE is working to reduce addiction and prevent overdose deaths.

“Rates of prescription drug misuse are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs,” said Karen Atkins, MORE Project Director.  “We must do all that we can to stem overdose fatalities and reduce access to these substances.”

“The annual drug take-back event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means for residents to dispose of prescription drugs while also educating the public about the potential for abuse if medications are not used as prescribed, by the person to whom they were prescribed, and within the specified timeframe of the prescription,” said Chief Rodney Richardson of the Richmond Police Department.

“Berea is proud to be a part of the annual drug take-back program.  Many times, drug abuse can start from within the home, with unused medications.  This program provides everyone a safe way to dispose of potentially dangerous leftover drugs,” said Chief Eric Scott of the Berea Police Department.

Community members unable to attend the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day are reminded that drug take-back boxes are located at the Berea Police Department and Richmond Police Department.  Unused prescriptions can be dropped off 24/7.  Individuals are encouraged to remove any person information from prescription drug bottles.

Individuals who are unable to take unused prescription drugs to the police department can dispose of medication at home by: taking medication out of its bottle, mixing the medication with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds or kitty litter, putting the mixture in an empty can or zip-lock bag, and throwing it away in the trash.  Medications should never be flushed down a toilet or washed down a sink.

Free Deterra drug deactivation bags are also available through MORE at these local pharmacies:

• Bluegrass Family Pharmacy at 2187 Lexington Road, Suite
• CVS Pharmacy at 409 E. Main Street
• Madison Drug Store at 110 Big Hill Road
• McCay’s Pharmacy at 260 Boggs Lane
• Medicine Shoppe at 238 E. Main Street
• Walgreen’s Pharmacy at 501 Caperton Drive
• White House Clinic at 401 High Land Park Drive

In addition to preventing overdose deaths, the Take Back Day initiative addresses the vital public safety and public health issue of prescription drug addiction.

For more information regarding Drug Take Back Day, contact Lieutenant Josh Hale at [email protected] or call (859) 623-1163.