Monday, March 30, 2015
Staff report
WARREN
The Trumbull County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Opiate Task Force has produced a new drug-disposal brochure containing a list of drop boxes for unwanted drugs.
In addition to taking unused medicines to drop-off boxes, other tips for proper disposal are offered.
“Teen abuse of prescription medicines ranks second only to marijuana as the nation’s most prevalent illegal drug problem,” the brochure says.
“Much of this abuse appears to be due to the relative ease of access to prescription and over-the-counter medications.”
Twenty-six percent of high school students have abused prescription drugs, the brochure says, quoting the Ohio Department of Health.
It is best not to flush medications down the toilet because antibiotic residuals can be harmful to sewage- treatment facilities and reach streams, lakes and drinking water, ASAP says.
Anyone who cannot get to a drop-off location should take unneeded medications out of the original container and mix them with coffee grounds, cat litter or sawdust, place the mixture in a disposable container such as a sealable plastic bag, place the container in the trash, remove all personal information from the empty medicine bottle and then recycle it.
Drug drop-off locations in Trumbull County:
Brookfield Police Department, 6844 Strimbu Drive, Brookfield, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Champion Police Department, 149 Center St. East, Warren, 24 hours, seven days.
Hubbard Police Department, 233 School St., Hubbard, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Liberty Township Administration Building, 1315 Church Hill-Hubbard Road, Liberty, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lordstown Police Department, 1583 Salt Springs Road, Lordstown, 24 hours, seven days a week.
Newton Falls Police Station, 19 N. Canal St., first floor hallway, Newton Falls, 24 hours, seven days.
Niles Police Department, 15 E. State St., Niles, 24 hours, seven days.
Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office, 150 High St., Warren, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Vienna Police Department, 856 Youngstown-Kingsville Road (Route 193), Vienna, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.