Ohioans toss out more than 8,600 pounds of prescription drugs as part of disposal program

10/26/2013

COLUMBUS — The state’s attorney general says residents in southern Ohio have gotten rid of more than 8,600 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs at drop boxes.

The mailbox-style disposal sites are at more than 60 law enforcement agencies in the region. They were provided by the attorney general’s office, the Ohio Department of Health and the Drug Free Action Alliance.

Attorney General Mike DeWine says the several tons of unwanted drugs were gathered in the first year of the drop-box program, which began last October.

Overdose drug deaths driven largely by painkiller addictions have surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of accidental death in Ohio.

More than 200 locations in Ohio were expected to participate today in a national prescription drug collection day to collect unwanted and unneeded pills.