MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Saturday is national Drug Take Back Day.
It’s an initiative to reduce access to unused, unneeded, and expired prescription medications. There are hundreds of locations across the state where those drugs can be dropped on Saturday.
You can find the location nearest you here.
West Virginia Sober Living Chief Operating Officer Jon Dower, who is also in long-term recovery, urges residents to participate.
“We had a surgery and got some medication and didn’t take it,” Dower said. “Drug Take Back Day is an excellent way to dispose of those medications properly.”
U.S. Attorney for Southern West Virginia Moore Capito is also urging participation.
“Unused prescription drugs don’t just sit in a cabinet — they become a gateway to abuse, addiction, and tragedy,” Capito said. “Taking a few minutes to dispose of them properly is one of the simplest, most effective steps we can take to protect our families, safeguard our communities, and save lives.”
It’s taking advantage of the opportunity to remove unwanted drugs will also prevent the possibility of the drugs falling into the wrong hands, Dower said.
“Helps to avoid diversion; it prevents the drugs from getting into our water supply—it can truly be a very impactful process for those who participate,” Dower said.
Last year across the nation, 286 tons of unwanted drugs were turned in at more than 4,000 sites. Since 2010, the program has collected more than 20 tons of medication.
“Unfortunately when narcotics are left around, people with substance abuse disorder may try to obtain those,” Dower said.
Drug Take Back Day provides an easy way to prevent pollution and the possibility of the drugs changing the course of a life for the worse.
“They’re often just left in medicine cabinets, so the more we can reduce the available supply, the more we can potentially save lives,” Dower said.