Mercer County Sheriff 'Takes Back' More Than 300 Pounds Of Drugs

The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office collected over 300 pounds of unused or expired prescription drugs for disposal during the county’s prescription drug take-back day on Saturday, April 28, Sheriff Jack Kemler announced.

In addition to expired or unneeded blood pressure, heart, and cholesterol medications, dangerous opiate painkillers, such as Oxycodone, Vicodin, and Percocet, were also turned in for safe disposal.

The drugs were collected at the Mercer County Administration Building before being turned over to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The drugs were destroyed on Monday.

“I am pleased so many local residents gathered up their unused prescriptions from their medicine cabinets for disposal,” Kemler said. The sheer quantity of old prescriptions turned in will help prevent abuse, addiction, theft or accidental use.”

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible method for disposing of unneeded and expired prescription pills. 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.

For more information, on the safe disposal of prescription drugs, contact the Mercer County Sheriff s Office - Programs Section at 609-278-7159.

The attached image was provided by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office