The Kettering Police Department to participate in National Drug Take Back Day

Kettering, Ohio – The Kettering Police Department will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Pill Take Back Day on October 23, 2021. The event will take place at the Kettering Government Center from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

The DEA says that there are several reasons people should get rid of their old unused prescription drugs. First, the DEA says that lost and/or stolen prescription drugs “Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands.” The DEA says that it can be dangerous and tragic when someone gets prescription drugs that weren’t meant for them.

Second, often people think that they can just flush unused prescription drugs down the toilet. But in reality, this can lead to drug substances seeping into the water supply. Some communities have outlawed this process. If a drug disposal site isn’t available, the DEA instead recommends removing the medicine from its original container, scratching out all identifying information on the pill or capsule, and mixing it with an undesirable substance like used coffee grounds or cat litter. The mixture can then be placed in a sealable bag or other sealable containers to prevent leakage and placed in your regular trash.

The DEA says that you should never share prescription drugs with other people. To learn more about how to safely dispose of prescription drugs, you can visit www.deatakeback.com
or call 1-800-882-9539.

The Take Back website has several Public Service Announcements with information about the program and why it’s important. The site also has a searchable prescription and illegal drug database. In addition, the DEA site provides information on how individuals can obtain treatment information if they are addicted to prescription or illegal drugs.

Kettering says that during a previous pill Take Back event in April, Ohio collected 43,475 pounds of pills. Ohio’s total was 19.3% of all the pills collected nationwide during the April DEA Pill Take Back event.

During the October 23, 2021, Kettering Take Back event at the Government Center, residents will be able to dispose of many prescription drugs. However, the Kettering Police Department says that liquids and syringes will not be accepted during the Take Back event.

If residents are unable to make the National DEA Pill Take Back Day, the Kettering Police Department has a drug collection box in the Department’s lobby that is available for drop-offs 24 hours per day 7 days per week.