Indiana, along with the rest of the nation, is battling an opioid epidemic. Drug overdoses are now the No. 1 cause of accident-related deaths in Indiana and the United States. Our state is facing a crisis that is destroying lives and damaging entire communities.
A recent study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that an estimated 18.9 million people misused prescription drugs in the past year, and over 50 percent of people who abuse prescription medications get them from family or friends, often from the medicine cabinet.
In order to keep unwanted and expired medicine out of the hands of drug abusers, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management has partnered with the Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force to promote safe drug disposal practices in Indiana.
Unwanted medications may be taken to your local take-back collection program. The locations in Senate District 38 are listed below:
Clay County
Lynn’s Pharmacy
22 W. National Ave.
Brazil, IN
812-446-2381
Vigo County
Indiana State University Public Safety Office
210 N. 6th St.
Terre Haute, IN
812-237-7829
Terre Haute Police Department
1211 Wabash Ave.
Terre Haute, IN
812-238-1661
Walgreens Disposal Kiosk
1300 Wabash Ave.
Terre Haute, IN
812-234-5147
Some disposal sites do not accept liquid medication. In order to safely dispose of expired or unwanted liquid medication, you should:
Pharmaceutical waste is a risk to human health and the environment if disposed of improperly. For more information on disposing unwanted medication, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/recycle/2343.htm.
As always, you can contact my office directly with your questions and concerns by email at Senator.Ford@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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