Prescription drugs will be collected for disposal Saturday
Anyone with leftover prescription drugs – especially painkillers and controlled substances – can get rid of them on Saturday.
People often flush drugs down the toilet or throw them in the trash, which can have unintended consequences. The drugs can contaminate the water, which isn’t good for people or the environment, and people can steal drugs out of the trash.
As part of National Drug Take Back Day, law enforcement agencies around the state will collect prescription drugs and dispose of them safely to prevent accidental or intentional misuse.
The Drug Enforcement Administration collects the drugs from each location, and DEA agents take them to St. Louis for incineration.
To search locations by city or ZIP code, visit deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ and click on “Locate a Collection Site.”
All drop-off locations will accept drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Studies show people who abuse prescription drugs tend to get them from the medicine cabinets of family and friends.
Year-round, people can drop off prescription drugs at the Household Hazardous Waste center, 801 W. Stillwell, but the site does not accept controlled substances, such as hydrocodone and Lortab. People can contact their local DEA office to get rid of controlled substances at other times during the year.
Reach Gabriella Dunn at 316-268-6400 or gdunn@wichitaeagle.com. Follow her on Twitter: @gabriella_dunn.
Locations within 50 miles of Wichita
All locations will accept prescription drugs Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
▪ Wichita – Household Hazardous Waste, 801 W. Stillwell
▪ Wichita – Oaklawn Activity Center, 4900 S. Clifton
▪ Wichita – Sedgwick County Zoo, 5500 W. Zoo Blvd.
▪ Haysville – Haysville Police Department, 200 W. Grand
▪ Derby – Derby Antique Mall, 317 N. Rock Road
▪ Maize – Maize City Hall, 10100 W. Grady
▪ Belle Plaine – Belle Plaine Police Department, 419 N. Logan
▪ Wellington – Wellington Police Department, 200 N. C, Suite 100
▪ Newton – Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, 120 E. 7th
▪ Conway Springs – Conway Springs Police Department, 310 W. Spring
▪ Oxford – Oxford Police Department, 121 S. Sumner
▪ Hillsboro – Hillsboro Police Department, 414 N. Ash
▪ Norwich – Norwich City Hall, 226 S. Main
▪ Kingman – Kingman County Law Enforcement Center, 120 N. Spruce
▪ South Hutchinson – South Hutchinson Police Department, 10 E. Blanchard
▪ Marion – Marion Police Department, 112 N. 5th
▪ McPherson – McPherson Police Department, 1177 W. Woodside
▪ Sterling – Sterling Fire Department, 115 N. Broadway
▪ Lyons – Rice County Health Department, 1486 W. Highway 56
Source: Office of Diversion Control, National Take Back Initiative Collection
This story was originally published September 22, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Prescription drugs will be collected for disposal Saturday."