Chatham-Kent residents dropped off nearly 88 kilograms of old and unused prescription mediation recently to police and volunteers.
The drop off event took place May 5, at three locations – the Chatham-Kent Courthouse, as well as the Shoppers Drug Marts in Wallaceburg and Tilbury.
In total, 2,006 pills were turned over, up from 1,200 last year.
Most of the drugs collected included opiates, amphetamines and barbiturates, which are all highly dangerous drugs, police said.
Over the past five years, the prescription drop off days have seen nearly 9,300 pills removed from local medicine cabinets.
This initiative helps police keep these drugs out of the hands of those who should not have them. The misuse and abuse of prescription medications has become a public safety issue for communities and police services across the country.
The abuse of prescription medications can lead to incidents of overdose and in some cases, death.
All medication dropped off May 5 will be properly destroyed, keeping them from entering our water sources.
The Chatham-Kent Police Service would like to remind residents that at any time, unused or expired prescription medications can be dropped off at local pharmacies. They will dispose of the medications in an environmentally safe manner.
