Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost's office organized its eighth Drug Dropoff Day in Montgomery County, collecting 216.6 pounds of unused or expired prescription medications. The event was held at Miami Valley Fire Station No. 52 in Miamisburg, Ohio, and saw participation from 75 vehicles dropping off medications, including fentanyl patches and oxycodone.

AG Yost stated, "Our Drug Dropoff Days are all about protecting lives. Every pill collected is one less opportunity for misuse." This initiative has been active since July 2021 and has successfully disposed of 2,829 pounds of drugs to date.

The event was a collaborative effort involving the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Miami Valley Fire District, WHIO-TV and radio as media partners, and Ohio Sea Grant from The Ohio State University. Montgomery County was chosen based on data from Yost’s Scientific Committee on Opioid Prevention and Education (SCOPE), which ranks the county ninth in opioid overdose deaths among Ohio's counties.

This marked the second Drug Dropoff Day in Montgomery County after a previous event collected over 700 pounds of medications. The sheriff’s office requested another session due to its success.

A partnership with Ohio Sea Grant emphasizes preventing discarded drugs from contaminating water sources like groundwater and lakes. Pharmaceuticals have been found in drinking water supplies, posing risks to aquatic life through continuous exposure.

Residents who missed the event can still dispose of unwanted prescriptions by contacting local law enforcement agencies. All Ohioans are encouraged to adhere to safe storage guidelines for medications to ensure community safety.

The Drug Dropoff Days are part of SCOPE's efforts to address opioid misuse through research and education initiatives.