MOUNT VERNON — In an effort to curb the explosion of prescription drug misuse and addiction in Knox County, residents will have the opportunity to drop off old and unwanted pills during Saturday’s Old Prescription Round Up.
The first drug round up day, coordinated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, took place September 2010, and culminated in the collection 121 tons of prescription drugs from all over the United States.
Officers from the Fredericktown Police Department will be at the Fredericktown Senior Citizens Center to help collect medication.
“This will be a good opportunity to get pills out of houses and off the streets,” said FPD Lt. Jay Sheffer. “Everybody has seen a big increase in the pill problem. No town, village or city is immune.”
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office will have deputies at Foster’s Pharmacy in Centerburg to aid in the collection of medications.
“Obviously the more prescriptions that we can get rid of, the more we can keep out of the wrong hands,” said KCSO Capt. David Shaffer.
Shaffer explained that being in possession of medications that were not prescribed to you is not only illegal but can also be a health risk. He encourages county residents to use the round up to clean out pills no longer needed or wanted.
samantha.scoles@mountvernonnews.com
