RxCollect

RxCollect: Safe Medication Disposal Program

The Licking County Prescription Drug Task Force announces the beginning of a pilot program for the continuous collection and disposal of prescription drugs and over-the counter medications called RxCollect.  Beginning November 1, 2011 Licking County residents can dispose of their unwanted and expired prescription and non-prescription medications at one of three law enforcement departments throughout the county. The Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force will support local law enforcement in monitoring the central collection, storage, transport and destruction of the collected medications.  Destruction of the drugs will take place by incineration.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS:

• Licking County Sheriff’s Office, 155 E Main Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
• Newark Police Department, 39 S. 4th Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
• Pataskala Police Department, 430 S. Main Street, Pataskala, Ohio  43062

HOURS FOR ALL LOCATIONS:

• The disposal hours are during normal business hours for all the locations.

Acceptable items for disposal include:

• Unused and expired prescription drugs
• Unused and expired over-the-counter medications
• Pet medications
• Vitamins
• Ointments, creams or lotions
• Liquid medications such as cough syrups

Items NOT ACCEPTED for disposal include:

• Needles, syringes and lancets
• Inhalers

NOTE: Residents should remove or black out the personal information on pharmacy labels and leave the medicines in the original package or container.

Why should Licking County residents use the RxCollect program?:

Public Safety--According to statistics from the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), prescription pain relievers are the
new drug users’ drug of choice versus marijuana or cocaine. By partnering with law enforcement in this program, it allows residents to bring in prescription pain killers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone commonly known as Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin.  Removing these narcotics from the medicine cabinet and properly disposing of them will help to reduce the potential of drug abuse and accidental drug misuse.

Environmental Concerns--Prescription and non-prescription are also being found in our rivers, streams and ground water.  These drugs are considered to be “emerging contaminants of concern” partly due to the harmful effects that low concentrations are already having on the fish population.  Our existing wastewater treatment plants and septic systems
are not designed to remove these contaminants.  Residents can help to reduce the amount of these contaminants in our environment by utilizing the collection bins instead of flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet or putting them in the trash.

In the News:

• New incinerator will dispose of illegal, prescription drugs (10/5/2011--Newark Advocate)

RxCollect Agency Partners:

• Pathways of Central Ohio
• Licking County Prescription Drug Task Force
• Licking County Sheriff's Office
• Newark Police Department
• Pataskala Police Department
• Heath Police Department
• The Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force
• Community Mental Health and Recovery Board
• Denison University

RxCollect was made possible by a grant from Denison University’s Venture Philanthropic Club, as well as support from the
Community Mental Health and Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties and Pathways of Central Ohio.