The Van Wert County Courthouse

Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024

DEA limits drugs that can be turned in

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach has announced new limitations to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) Prescription Drug Turn-In program. Sheriff Riggenbach said changes in the program are a result, in part, of changes made at the federal level as to what the DEA will accept for destruction.

The sheriff’s office will no longer be able to accept liquid medications, new or used needles or syringes, or other non-pill forms of medication, although Sheriff Riggenbach said his office would continue to accept medications in pill form.

Drug Take Back artworkSheriff Riggenbach is asking residents to remove pills from bottles or blister packs and put them in a bag or box before bringing the medications to the sheriff’s office. Residents should then remove all labels containing identifying information from the bottles and blister packs before throwing the empty bottles and blister packs in the trash. Residents should make all personal information on the labels illegible before throwing the labels in the trash.

Sheriff Riggenbach also said his office will accept medications in pill form from county residents but not from businesses. Residents will continue to be able to drop off their pill medications to the sheriff’s office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as in the past.

Sheriff Riggenbach stated that, this past April, as part of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, 183 pounds of prescription drugs were turned in to the sheriff’s office. In all, 804 pounds of prescription drugs have been turned in to the sheriff’s office since the beginning of the program.

Sheriff Riggenbach said studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods of disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Sheriff Riggenbach encourages everyone to turn in prescription pill medications that are expired or no longer needed at his office.

POSTED: 07/25/16 at 7:01 am. FILED UNDER: News