BARRON COUNTY -- Two out of three people who abuse prescription painkillers get them through friends or relatives. This is why it is important to clean your medicine cabinet regularly. Safely discard all unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications.
“As a community, we can all takes steps to prevent prescription drug abuse” states Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald. “First, talk to the kids in your life about safe use of medicine. Second, bring all unwanted medications to a permanent drug drop box for safe disposal.”
There are now eight permanent drug drop boxes located throughout Barron County. Community members can safely and securely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications at these drop boxes. The newest drop box is located at Cumberland Healthcare.
The Barron County Sheriff’s Department also has a new “mobile” drug drop box. This drop box offers more opportunities for safe medication disposal at community events.
The “mobile” drug drop box will make its debut at the 50+ Challenge to Live Well event at Rice Lake Cedar Mall on April 22, 2018. Event attendees are invited to bring medications to the drug drop box for safe disposal. The box will be located at the Sheriff’s Department booth.
Contact Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald to offer safe drug disposal at your next community event by hosting the “mobile” drug drop box: 715-537-5814 or Chris.Fitzgerald@co.barron.wi.us.
Barron County permanent drug drop boxes are located at:
- Barron County Justice Center
- Cameron Police Department
- Cumberland Healthcare
- Cumberland Police Department
- Marshfield Clinic Pharmacy – Rice Lake
- Ohde Pharmacy – Chetek
- Rice Lake Police Department
- Turtle Lake Police Department
Items that are accepted at these locations:
- Prescription medications
- Controlled and non-controlled medications
- Over the counter medications
- Medication samples
- Vitamins
- Medicated ointments/lotions
- Inhalers
Items that are not accepted:
- Needles*
- Liquid medications
- Thermometers
- IV bags
- Bloody or infectious waste
- Personal care products
- Empty containers
- Aerosol cans
- Business waste
*For questions about needle/sharps disposal, please contact Barron County Public Health for safe options: 715-537-5691, extension 6442.
For more information, please visit www.BC3Coalition.org/medreturn. The “mobile” drop box was made possible through the Barron County Community Coalition and Wisconsin Opioid State Targeted Response Grant.
Last Update: Apr 12, 2018 9:10 am CDT
