Police Collect 300 Pounds Of Prescription Drugs On Take-Back Day

Mercer County residents turned in over 300 pounds of unused or expired prescription drugs for disposal during the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at the Mercer County Administration Building on Saturday, according to Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler.

Dangerous opiate painkillers, including OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet, etc., were turned in as part of the collection. Blood pressure and heart medications, as well as cholesterol pills, were also among the wide range of prescription drugs that were turned in.

The drugs were weighed, turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and immediately destroyed.

“Our goal to help local residents rid their medicine cabinets of opioid painkillers, in addition to other unneeded pills was a success,” Kemler said. “By properly disposing of over 300 pounds of prescription drugs from our medicine cabinets, we help to prevent abuse, theft or accidental use.”

The program held each spring and fall, is conducted by the Mercer County Sheriff s Office with the assistance of the Mercer County Prosecutor s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). For more information, contact the Mercer County Sheriff s Office at 609-989-6111.

The above image was provided by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office

Attached image is a Patch file photo