STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Each year the Drug Enforcement Administration holds a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day where people can safely dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. The last event brought in more than 900,000 pounds of medication nationwide.
But the city of Strongsville is taking a proactive approach so its residents don't have to wait until the next Drug Take Back event, which is coming up in April 2019.
The city just partnered with the Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative to help curb the opioid crisis by offering residents DETERRA kits to dispose of old prescription and over-the-counter meds.
"It's been a habit of our culture to save our prescription medications," Lietuentant Brian Tomcany, of the Strongsville Fire Department, said. "So in response to the opioid crisis, we're partnering with a company to help find a responsible way to get rid of drugs."
The DETERRA packets are simple. You tear open the bag, dump your medications inside, fill the bag halfway with warm water, seal it back up and throw the packet in the garbage.
The kits have a patented molecular absorption technology that neutralizes pills, liquids or patches. Each DETERREA bag can safely hold up to 45 pills, or 6 patches or 6 ounces of liquid.
“This opioid epidemic doesn’t know any boundaries. It’s across our whole community, across our whole country. The opioid epidemic is real," Lt. Tomcany said. "We hope people recognize that by having these medications laying around can contribute to the problem. So we hope they understand there’s a responsible way to dispose of your medications.”
The city was awarded 400 packets in the partnership. They can be picked up at any Strongsville Fire Station, police department and the Ehrnfelt Rec Center and City Hall, at 16099 Foltz Pkwy.
