Strongsville Offering New Way To Safely Dispose Of Medications

STRONGSVILLE, OH — The Strongsville Fire Department is now offering residents DETERRA kits — pouches that can be used to safely dispose of prescription medication.

The Fire Department said it wants to make it easier to get rid of unneeded medication, and make it easier to do so responsibly and safely. To that end, the city partnered with Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative to acquire 400 DETERRA kits.

"Just put the drugs in the pouch, add water, seal, and you can throw it away in your regular trash. The pouches deactivate the drugs so they won't pollute landfills or waterways," the city said on social media.

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The pouches can be picked up at any of the city's four fire stations, the police station (from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays), the Ehrnfelt Recreation Center, and Strongsville City Hall, while supplies last.

"We know that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet," said DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon in late 2018. "If we reduce the availability of those unused or expired medications through proper disposal, the fewer drugs there are to be misused, and fewer people will be at risk for abuse, addiction, overdose, and even death."

Strongsville also has a drop-box at the police station where residents can deposit their unwanted prescription medications. The city also partakes in the national Drug Take-Back Day, in cooperation with the DEA.

"Too often the misuse and abuse of prescription opioid starts in the home," said John Parker, senior vice president of communications at the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, Allied Against Opioid Abuse foundation's founding member, in 2018. "By disposing of old or unused prescription opioids properly and as soon as they are no longer needed, we can all do our part in helping to prevent these medicines from falling into the wrong hands."