Two members of the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission (AICDAC) were making homes a little safer on Saturday.
Diana Fye, a preventive specialist with AICDAC, and Drug Free Coalition Project Coordinator Jacqueline Dolby were collecting expired or unwanted prescriptions and/or OTC medications from household medicine cabinets. The event, which was held at the Clarion Mall, is in support of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day.
AICDAC partnered with the Clarion County Sheriff’s Office and the mall for the local event.
“We had a big turnout from the local community,” Fye said. “Last year we collected three boxes and we exceeded that this year.”
She said many people bring in drugs that had belonged to someone who has either stopped taking medication due to a change in their prescription or the patient has died, but “some elderly people might believe they need to be responsible for the medicine and keep taking it.”
“We want to be sure they don’t end up in the wrong hands,” she said. “There could be kids at home who could be exposed to the medication. There could also be pets who think the medicine is a treat. It is important to prevent the medication from going into landfills.”
Fye said no medicines can be collected without law enforcement being present. Therefore, a deputy from the Sheriff’s Office was present. The drugs that are collected are eventually turned over to the DEA for disposal.
AICDAC was also offering free Naloxone (Narcan) kits at the event. Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and is available to anyone.
Drug drop-off boxes are located at the Clarion and Knox police departments, and at the state police barracks in Clarion. Medication can be dropped off at the secure drop boxes around the clock.