Kentucky residents urged to dispose of unwanted prescription pills this Saturday

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- This Saturday, law enforcement agencies will be teaming up for the annual Drug Take Back initiative.

The program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.

In south central Kentucky, law enforcement officers will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction.

The service is free and anonymous.

According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs.

“It is an epidemic problem,” said Warren County Sheriff, Brett Hightower. “A lot of times people aren’t using all of their medication and they are leaving some in their cabinets and on their counter-tops. The idea is to get these out of their households and into a place where they can be disposed of properly.”

On Saturday, South Central Kentucky residents can visit several drop off locations from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.:

-Bowling Green Police Department
-Greenwood High School
-Kentucky State Police Post 3
-Glasgow Walmart on Happy Valley Road.

Last October, during Take Back Day, the DEA and over 4,700 of its national, tribal, and community law enforcement partners collected nearly 4,500 tons of unwanted prescription drugs at over 5,800 collection sites.

In addition to the event on Saturday, prescription pill drop off boxes are located inside the Bowling Green Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police Post 3.