ISP to collect, dispose of prescription medications

The Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration will provide the opportunity to dispose of medications 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at any State Police Post in Indiana.

The Bloomington State Police Post is located at 1500 N. Packinghouse Road.

This is the eighth time in the past three years the ISP and the DEA have given the public an opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs, according to a press release from the ISP.

The service is free, anonymous and no questions asked.

The collection is intended for liquid and pill medications only.

New or used needles will not be accepted.

At the last collection in October 2013, ISP collected 1,451 pounds of drugs.

The DEA collected 324 tons of prescription drugs nationwide, according to the release.

Medicines that sit unused in home cabinets are likely to be misused or abused, the release said.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, 654 Hoosiers died from accidental drug overdoses in 2010.

Seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs.

Studies show that in the majority of instances of prescription drug abuse.

Drugs were obtained from family and friends, according to the release.

M.K. Wildeman