Budish Encourages Residents to ‘Take Back Your Meds’ on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

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Contacts:
Miranda Kortan: (216) 698-2546; mkortan@cuyahogacounty.us 


National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 24

CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH
-Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish is encouraging residents to ‘Take Back Your Meds,’ in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day initiative on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Residents can safely dispose of their unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications at one of the many Rx Drug Drop Box locations throughout Cuyahoga County.

“National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that you no longer need and still keep in your home cabinet are highly susceptible to being stolen, misused and abused. Removing these potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted medications from your household prevents misuse where it often starts,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “If you’re unable to participate on October 24th, you can still drop off your unused medications for disposal on another date, as our Rx Drug Drop Boxes are available year-round.”

Cuyahoga County currently has over 60 Rx Drug Drop Boxes located at law enforcement agencies. To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

Rx Drug Drop Boxes provide an environmentally friendly disposal process and reduce the risks involved with leaving prescription medications in your home. All prescription medications can be dropped off, except for liquids, needles, or illicit drugs. DEA and Cuyahoga County also accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop off locations. It is important to note that devices containing lithium ion batteries cannot be accepted. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.

In 2019, Cuyahoga County collected 14,213 pounds of unused or expired prescription medication brought in through the Drug Drop Boxes. Since 2013, Cuyahoga County has brought in over 81,000 pounds of prescription drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.


  
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