Mary Alice Reporting – The most recent drug take-back collection event was a success for Tuscarawas County.
Deputies were stationed on October 29th at two hospital locations, in Dover and Dennison, to take any unwanted and unused medications.
At Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, the collection was 113lbs and 15lbs was collected at Trinity Twin City Hospital.
Empower Tusc Coordinator Jodi Salvo says getting this amount of unwanted prescription pills out of homes can help prevent future addiction issues.
“There’s a lot of research that points that a lot of addiction starts in the home medicine cabinet. It just eliminates that one way that people might experiment or initiate and it might not even be just young people. It might be people in your home for the holidays.”
A total weight of 816lbs has been collected throughout the county so far this year and this includes the drop boxes at local police departments.
From January 1, 2022, to present:
~ Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office: 358 lbs.
~ Sugarcreek Police Department: 23 lbs.
~ Strasburg Police Department: 44 lbs.
~ Newcomerstown Police Department: 28 lbs.
~ Dennison Police Department: 26 lbs.
~ New Phila Police Department: 209 lbs.
For more information on safe storage, safe disposal, or asking for a free Deterra deactivation bag or lock box, visit www.empowertusc.com or call them at 3330-440-7319.
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