The
Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office gives citizens the opportunity to rid
their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, used, unwanted
prescription drugs, while also helping prevent pill abuse and theft.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to
diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the
United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental
poisonings and overdoses to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained
from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. In
addition, people are now advised that their usual methods of disposing
of unused medicines- flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in
the trash- both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Residents are asked to remove the pill medications from the bottles or
blister packs and put the pills in a bag or box before bringing the pill
medications to the Sheriff’s Office. Residents can then remove all
labels containing identifying information from the bottles and blister
packs before throwing the empty bottles and blister packs in the trash.
Residents should then make all personal information on the labels
illegible before throwing the labels in the trash. The Van Wert County
Sheriff’s Office will accept pill form medications from citizens but is
not able to receive pill form medications from businesses.
The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office will accept prescription medication
from citizens throughout the year. The Sheriff’s Office encourages
everyone to turn in prescription drugs that are expired or no longer
needed. Citizens can bring their pills or patches for disposal at any
time to the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office at 113 N. Market Street in
Van Wert. This is a free service and citizens can remain anonymous when
dropping off medications.
The Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office will not accept liquid medications,
new or used needles or syringes, or other non-pill forms of medication.
