To find all the locations hosting drug drop-offs, search here: takebackday.dea.gov
Pill bottles that are turned in will be emptied and recycled for use by the Humane Society for prescriptions for animals.
Locations participating in the drop-off can only accept pills, not liquids or powders.
UPDATE @ 11:12 a.m.:
Kettering Police are among dozens of agencies in the area holding prescription drug drop-off events today as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Half an hour into the event, they'd already collected several bags full of unused and leftover prescription.
Anyone who can't drop off unwanted medications today can use the permanent drop box located inside the Kettering Police Department lobby, 3600 Shroyer Road, any day of the year.
FIRST REPORT:
The White House, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and local authorities are reminding people that Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The goal of the nationwide effort is to allow Americans to safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription medications that may have accumulated in their medicine cabinets.
Having unneeded prescriptions around the house has been shown to fuel drug abuse. Those drugs can also expire and become dangerous for use or can accidentally end up in the hands of children.
RELATED: Pharmacists joining forces to fight opioid epidemic
The 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicated that more than 3 million people aged 12 or older were current abusers of pain relievers, and that more than 11.5 million people aged 12 or older reported misuse of opioid pain relievers in the past year.
The abuse of prescription pain pills has been a major contributing factor in the overdose epidemic that killed 42,000 Americans in 2016 and even more in 2017.
According to data from the Drug Abuse Warning Network, from 2004 to 2011, an estimated 22,174 children aged 1 to 5 were taken to an emergency room due to accidental ingestion of opioid pain relievers.
RELATED: Opioid prescribing sharply declines in Ohio
National Take Back Day happens twice per year, in April and October.
According to the DEA, results from the October 2017 National Take Back Day show 4,274 law enforcement partners participated at 5,321 collection sites and collected 912,305 pounds of prescription drugs — more than the weight of three Boeing 757 airplanes.
Local locations participating in Saturday’s drop-off event include all Dayton Police stations. Some police departments in the area are holding their drop-offs at schools, churches, health centers or Kroger locations. Most events run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To find locations participating Saturday, search by address or city at: takebackday.dea.gov
RESOURCE GUIDE: How to get help with addiction locally
Those who can't make it to a drop-off location can dispose of unused medication at home by using a disposal bag — offered free at local Kroger pharmacies, county mental health and addiction services boards, Goodwill/Easter Seals Miami Valley and by mail from the National Safety Council. Household products like cat litter or coffee grounds can also be used to safely dispose of unwanted drugs.
There are many locations across Southwest Ohio that will accept unused medications for drop-off year-round. Some are even open 24/7.
Local permanent drug drop-off locations:
Clark County Sheriff's Office, 120 N Fountain Ave, Springfield, (937) 521-2050
Greene County Sheriff's Office, 120 E. Main Street, Xenia, 937-562-4803
Central State University Police Department, 1400 Brush Row Rd, Wilberforce, 937-376-6223
City of Middletown Police, 1 Donham Plaza, Middletown, (513) 425-7766
Eaton Police Division, 328 N. Maple Street, Eaton, 937-456-5531
Preble County Sheriff's Office, 1139 Preble Drive, Eaton, 937-456-6262
Miami County Incarceration Facility, 2042 N. County Rd 25 A, Troy, (937) 440-3961
German Township Police Department, 3940 Lawrenceville Drive, Springfield, 937-855-7215
Dayton Police, 951 Washington St., Dayton, 937-333-1000
Dayton Police, 2721 Wayne Avenue
Dayton Police, 335 West Third St.
Dayton Police, 248 Salem Avenue
Montgomery County Sheriff 's Office, 345 W Second St Dayton, OH 45422, 937-225-6490
Miami Township Police Department, 2660 Lyons Road, Miamisburg, OH 45342, 937-433-2301
Beavercreek Police Department, 1388 Research Pk Dr. Beavercreek, OH 45432, 937-427-5523
City of Miamisburg Police Department, 10 North First St. Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, 937-847-6600
Centerville Police Department, 155 West Spring Valley Road Centerville, Ohio 45458, 937-433-7661
Butler Township Police, 8526 North Dixie Drive, 937-890-2671
Fairborn Police Department, 70 West Hebble Ave. Fairborn , OH 45324, 937-754-3067
Franklin Police Department, 400 Anderson St., Franklin, OH 45005, 937-746-2882
German Township Police Department, 12102 State Route 725 W Germantown, OH 45327, 937-855-7215
City of Brookville Police, 301 Sycamore St., Brookville, OH 45309, 937-833-2001
Warren County Sheriff's Office Lobby, 550 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036, Available 24/7
Maineville Police Department, 8188 State Route 48, Maineville, OH 45039, Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Loveland Police Department, 126 S. Lebanon Rd., Loveland, OH 45140, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Franklin Police Department, 400 Anderson St., Franklin, OH 45005, Available 24/7
Clinton County Sheriff's Office Lobby, 1645 Davids Drive, Wilmington, OH 45177, Available 24/7
Wilmington Police Department, 69 N. South St., Wilmington, OH 45177, Available 24/7
Sabina Police Department Lobby, 99 N. Howard St., Sabina, OH 45169, Available 24/7
Urbana Hospital, 904 Scioto St., Urbana, Ohio 43078, available 24/7
Springfield Regional Medical Center, 100 Medical Center Drive, Springfield, Ohio 45504, accessible Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
What is an opioid?
All types of unwanted pills can be dropped off during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, from antibiotics to vitamins. Opioids are powerful pain medicines that are frequently abused and can lead to death if too much is ingested — an overdose. The following are names of opioids one might have in their home prescribed from a doctor.
Morphine — brand names MSIR, Roxanol, MSContin, Oramorph SR, Kadian, Avinza
Oxycodone (sometimes with acetaminophen) — brand names Oxycontin, OxyIR, Oxyfast, Endocodone, Roxilox, Roxicet, Percocet, Tylox, Endocet
Hydrocodone — brand names Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, Zydone, Hydrocet, Norco
Hydromorphone — brand names Dilaudid, Hydrostat
Fentanyl — brand name Duragesic patch
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