AREA ORGANIZATIONS/BUSINESSES JOIN FORCES FOR THE SIXTH FALL DRUG TAKE BACK DAY, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Stark County (MHRSB), the Stark County Anti-Drug Coalition, the Stark County Opiate Task Force and the Stark County Police Chiefs’ Association are joining together once again in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to rid our community of unneeded, unused and unwanted prescription medications. Police forces from Alliance, Brewster, Canal Fulton, Canton, Hartville, Jackson Twp., Louisville, Magnolia, Massillon, Minerva, North Canton, Perry and along with the Stark County Sherriff’s Department and the Stark County Metropolitan Narcotics Unit will be on-hand to collect expired and/or unwanted prescription medications. Together the goal is to help citizens of Stark County safely dispose of these dangerous drugs. This is part of a national effort to rid the nation of unwanted hazardous meds. To date, over 13 tons of drugs have been disposed of over the past six Drug Take Back Day events combined with the area Drug Collection Box Program in Stark County. The community-wide event will be held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the locations listed below. 

This completely confidential program allows adults to drop off medications in the forms of pills, liquids and creams as well as items such as syringes and tubing. Law enforcement officers will be on hand to assume and hold all medications. After the event, the drugs will be weighed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and be incinerated at high temperatures as to not harm the environment. Here is the list of where you can donate in your community:

Alliance Police Department, 470 East Market St., Alliance

Anytime Fitness, 5119 West Tuscarawas, Canton

Aultman Hospital, 2600 6th Street SW, Canton

Fairless High School, 11885 Navarre Rd. S.W., Brewster

Hartville Police Department, 202 West Maple St., Hartville

Judge Eugene Fellmeth Safety Center, 1165 South Locust St., Canal Fulton

Louisville Police Department, 1150 West Main Street, Louisville

Massillon Boys and Girls Club, 730 Duncan Street SW, Massillon

Mercy Medical Center, 1320 Mercy Dr., Canton

Minerva Police Department, 209 North Market St., Minerva

North Canton Police Department, 145 North Main St., North Canton

Plain Township Hall, 2600 Easton St. N.E., Canton

Sandy Valley Fire Station, 8285 Waynesburg Dr. S.E., Waynesburg

Special thanks to other in-kind supporters of the October 2013 Drug Take Back Day including Aultman Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District, Vail Packaging/Massillon Container Company and Walgreens.

Opiates have now taken the place of cocaine behind alcohol and marijuana as the third most used drug in Ohio. Unintentional drug poisoning has become the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, surpassing motor vehicle crashes and suicide. To find out more about the Stark County Anti-Drug Coalition and the Stark County Opiate Task Force, go to www.starkmhrsb.org. To find out about the state-wide effort, go to www.DrugAwarenessandPrevention.com.