Butler County residents are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards according to Lauren Marsh, director of the coalition.
“We do not want to harm our environment by continually flushing down old medicine in the toilet,” she said.
Marsh said unused prescriptions are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse.
“Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet,” Marsh said. “More than 50 percent of abused prescription drugs are obtained from a relative or a friend.”
Butler County Health Commissioner Jenny Bailer said efforts to address the drug problem are important to help battle overdose deaths in the county.
If overdose deaths continue their trend through the first half of this year, there will be 278 overdose deaths at the end of the year, according to Bailer.
“We need to stay the course, continue doing what we’re doing and more, in order to keep these hopeful signs moving in the right direction,” she said.
Marsh agrees that there is more work to be done and cited a recent Pride survey, which was recently given to students in grades seven through 12 in Butler County.
“The survey shows the average age of first use as 13 when youth begin using mind altering substances,” Marsh said. “This why we must do everything we can to dispose of drugs before they get into the wrong hands.”
The drug deactivation pouches are available at several local pharmacies, and area hospitals, along with police stations that have drug drop off boxes including the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and they are free of charge.
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