DeWine, others plan Take Back Day for prescription drugs
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Attorney General Mike DeWine and business and medical groups are urging Ohioans to turn in outdated and unused medications as part of the state’s efforts to combat prescription-drug trafficking and abuse.
The groups unveiled a new poster this week to be displayed in public places across the state to crack down on those who are inappropriately prescribing or distributing prescription drugs, and DeWine and others are publicizing a drug collection day planned for later this month.
“While the problem continues and we still lose Ohioans every single week who die from an overdose of prescription drugs, we do feel that we, in cooperation with everybody working together, we’re really making some progress,” DeWine said.
“Fourteen doctors have lost their licenses. We have trials that are upcoming, we have further investigations that are going on and a lot of different task forces that are working on this problem.”
DeWine and Gov. John Kasich’s administration have been vocal since taking office last year about reducing prescription-drug abuse in the state.
According to the attorney general, officers have seized more than 54,000 pills valued at $1.5 million-plus.
“I think part of our message today is that these drugs can be just as dangerous as illicit drugs if they are used incorrectly, and they can be horribly addictive and they can kill you,” the attorney general said Tuesday.
On April 29, the state will participate in Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a national event to provide drop-off sites for residents wanting to dispose of outdated or unused medicines. Participating locations around the state are listed online at www.dea.gov.