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Safely dispose of prescription drugs at Drug Take Back Day

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On April 27, the Harm Reduction Committee of the Montgomery County Drug Free Coalition will host the biannual Prescription Drug Take Back event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Montgomery County Courthouse, 100 E. Main St., Crawfordsville.

This free event provides the opportunity to carefully dispose of expired, unused or unneeded prescription drugs and over the counter medications.

What can happen if you keep old prescriptions and other medications around the house? Expired medications can be less effective or risky due to a change in the chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.

According to the DEA, many people don’t know how to properly clean out their medicine cabinets and failing to dispose of old medications, especially opioids, can often lead to dangerous drugs ending up in the wrong hands. Reducing the misuse of these expired medications can play a key role in combating the substance abuse issue often serving as a gateway to using more harmful substances.

Can’t attend this event? Don’t worry. Prescription drug disposal is also available year-round at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Crawfordsville Police Department.

The Harm Reduction Committee would also like to highlight the importance of proper disposal for not only medication, but for sharps/needles. Sharps can be safely disposed of at the Montgomery County Health Department, located at 1580 Constitution Row, Suite G and at the Crawfordsville Police Department lobby, located at 311 N. Green St.

For more information, visit www.drugfreemoco.org.


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