Pounds of old pills collected in drug collection
By Tina Johansson Special to The News-Sun October 30, 2011 5:16PM
Beach Park-10/29/11, Sat./Beach Park Village Hall Lake County Sheriffs Deputy Karen Kates, and Zion Police Officer Warren Ferry, seprate drugs for disposal. | Joe Shuman~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: December 30, 2011 1:22AM
Dozens showed up with expired medications and useless prescriptions at the national drug take-back collection held in the Beach Park Village Hall on Saturday.
The event was part of Red Ribbon Week.
For five hours, representatives from the Lake County Health Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office gave people information and showed them several large boxes set up inside the lower level of the Village Hall where they could safely dispose unwanted medications, including expired prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs in pill form, both controlled and non-controlled substances, and vitamins.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will destroy all dropped-off drugs, explained Liane Blanck, community health specialist for the Health Department.
Sheriff’s Deputy Karen Kates was busy making signs and setting them up outside the Village Hall, while Blanck and co-worker Sarah Wright set up tables offering information fliers, free pens and complimentary candy bars.
“We got so many calls yesterday, I just know we’ll do well today,” said Blanck.
In all, pounds of pills were collected and around 75 people came to the event. “These were people who had not come to the previous Beach Park drug take-back held in April,” she said.
Among them was Shirley Hall of Zion. “I know not to flush the drugs or throw them out. When my husband passed away about five years ago, the VA hospital where he was at told me not to do that. They asked me to bring all of his medicine to them and they would dispose of them properly,” said Hall. “I think it’s important, because you don’t want it to get into your drinking water.”
Michele Schwaab of Beach Park said, “I did not want to put the drugs down the toilet, so I held onto them for about a month until I could bring them here.”
According to county health officials, flushing drugs down a toilet or tossing them in the trash could indeed result in potential health and safety hazards for the environment.
There is also a fear of drug diversion — people getting hold of unused medications sitting in cupboards and on shelves. Officials note there have been drug overdoses caused by medications which have gotten into the wrong hands.
Zion Police Department Officer Warren Ferry was at the Beach Park Village Hall with a 20-pound bag filled with unwanted drugs residents dropped off at his police station.
“By doing this, it gets it off the streets and keeps out the possibility of children or teens getting a hold of it,” he said.
Health Department officials said last week a drug drop-off event co-sponsored by the Healthy YOUth program and Coalition for Healthy Communities was held at the Culver’s in Zion in which 26 pounds of medication was collected.
“I think there’s a real need for this,” said Health Department spokeswoman Carolyn Waller.
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