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Poland residents now have a safer way to dispose of medication
POLAND
Forget about flushing it down the toilet or throwing it in the garbage.
Residents now can dispose of unused or expired medication at a secure drop-off box at the township government building, 3339 Dobbins Road.
Police “will monitor it, control it, and they’ll dispose of the drugs,” explained township Administrator James Scharville.
The box arrived last week after township officials successfully applied for a CVS Pharmacy grant, which covered the estimated $800 cost.
Trustee Eric Ungaro first came up with the idea to get a drug drop-off box.
“It goes along the lines of what we’ve accomplished the last four years, in terms of being proactive with a school resource office, a canine, Narcan training and now a prescription drug drop-off,” Ungaro said, referring to the township’s anti-drug measures.
“You don’t sit around and wait for something bad to happen. You get out in front of it,” he said.
The police department got a new canine officer, Mido, earlier this year after the community raised the needed funds.
Township police also plan to undergo training to obtain Narcan, an overdose antidote, from the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office.
“Statistically there’s problems in America with this,” Ungaro said. “All those initiatives are just proactive. You’re just giving your citizens the best chance to utilize them and stay safe and hopefully stay drug-free.”
Township resident Mary Kushner was the first person to drop off medication Thursday.
“We do [have old medication], from different things,” Kushner said. “I think it’ll be good to have” the box.
The police department will be responsible for semi-annual reports about how much is dropped off, keeping the box secure and disposal of the drugs.
Police Chief Brian Goodin said area police departments usually coordinate drug disposal.
“Back in the day people just threw them away,” he said. “We’ve had kids come to school and bring their parents’ medication that they got a hold of. [This is] a good way to dispose of them properly, and keep them out of the wrong hands.”
Accepted drop-off items include prescriptions, prescription patches, prescription medications, prescriptions ointments, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, samples and medications for pets.
Thermometers, hydrogen peroxide, inhalers, aerosol cans, lotions or liquids, medication from businesses or clinics and needles are not accepted.
Accepted medications include non-controlled drugs and schedule II, III, IV and V controlled substances.
Residents can access the box from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday in the township center lobby.