BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — Prescription medication that’s unneeded was previously collected during Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but legislation eliminated that event so that drugs can be returned any day of the year.
“We rewrote the disposal regulations, allowing all police departments, hospitals, pharmacies and a whole list of entities to take and dispose of unwanted and unused medication,” said Matt Barden, special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Barden said Take Back Day was instituted nearly five years ago, and nine nationwide events were held to collect prescription drugs and keep them from being used illegally.
“The ultimate goal of the project was to get this final rule changed and implemented so that people could take those substances to a number of locations throughout their communities any day of the week,” Barden said.
He said funding was not a reason for the cancellation of the event, even though the collection, guarding, transportation and disposal of tons of pills were quite costly.
John Walker, chief of the Bridgeport Police Department, said his office is still putting together a strategy to collect and dispose of leftover prescription medication…
