Sheriff’s Office collects 203 pounds of medication on Drug Take-Back Day

The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office collected 203 pounds of unwanted prescription medication on Saturday during its Drug Take-Back Day event.

The nationwide initiative was created to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. People are given the opportunity all year to turn the medication into the sheriff’s office.

Thanks to Saturday’s event at the CVS at 1367 Double Churches Road, the total for the year reached 4,678 pounds, officials announced Monday morning in a news release.

“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” the Drug Enforcement Agency stated on its website. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

“Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.”

The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office reminded the public that there are numerous spots in the area where they can drop off their medication year-round.

Those locations include the Dinglewood Pharmacy at 1939 Wynnton Road, the North Columbus Pharmacy at 6490 Veterans Parkway (Main Street Village), Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office in the Government Center at East 10th Street, the City Services Center at 3111 Citizens Way and the Village Apothecary at 6801 River Road.

This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Sheriff’s Office collects 203 pounds of medication on Drug Take-Back Day."