Toledo installs 5 permanent drug drop-off boxes
8/20/2014Five prescription-drug drop-off locations are now open for the public to use 24 hours a day.
The white metal drop-off boxes are at the Safety Building, 525 N. Erie St.; Scott Park District Station, 2301 Nebraska Ave.; Northwest District Station, 2330 W. Sylvania Ave.; the University of Toledo Medical Center emergency room, 3065 Arlington Ave.; and the University of Toledo police station, 1515 S. Towerview Blvd. Another drop-off location will be added at the Lucas County Coroner‘s Office, 2595 Arlington Ave., in the near future.
Prior to today‘s announcement, the only permanent drop-off location was in Sylvania. Otherwise, police departments and other health agencies in the city and county have hosted annual one-day drug drop offs.
Offering a daily option could cut down on the number of accidental overdoses of children, eliminate supply for drug addicts, lessen the environmental impact of flushing or throwing away medication, and keep people from using expired drugs, said Larry Vasko, the deputy health commissioner of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.
All solid drugs — pills, capsules, patches, and pet medications — can be deposited into the boxes. Aerosol cans, including inhalers, syringes, ointments, and liquids cannot be left.
The city paid for two of its boxes, which cost about $900 each. Another was obtained by using a grant from the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators. The University of Toledo also paid for its boxes, said Toledo police Sgt. Ed Mack.
Sergeant Mack said that, although the public unveiling was today, he already emptied about 3 pounds of drugs from the drop box at Scott Park. Sergeant Mack and others who work in the department‘s property management section will be responsible for checking the boxes and emptying them. The drugs will then be treated like any other drugs booked into the property room — logged and locked away until a court order is sought to have the drugs incinerated.
Sergeant Mack said that the department destroys drugs about five times a year.