Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse

COLUMBUS – NBC4 (WCMH-TV) and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals are working together to increase awareness of the teen prescription drug abuse epidemic through a multimedia community campaign, Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse. The risk of prescription drug abuse can be reduced when consumers remove unused and expired medications from their homes and store the remainder safely. To ensure safe disposal, NBC4 and West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, in conjunction with Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Licking County Sheriff’s Office and Kroger, will once again offer Drug Disposal Day events this year. The next upcoming event will be on Saturday, April 30, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at nine Kroger locations:

Kroger – HilliardKroger – WestervilleKroger – Pataskala
4656 Cemetery Road55 West Schrock Road350 East Broad Street
Hilliard, Ohio 43026Westerville, Ohio 43081Pataskala, Ohio 43062
   
Kroger – GahannaKroger – ColumbusKroger – Columbus
300 South Hamilton Road1375 Chambers Road2090 Crown Plaza
Gahanna, Ohio 43230Columbus, Ohio 43212Columbus, Ohio 43220
   
Kroger – ColumbusKroger – Canal WinchesterKroger – Powell
3637 South High Street6095 Gender Road3975 West Powell Road
Columbus, Ohio 43207Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110Powell, Ohio 43065

Consumers are encouraged to drive through the Kroger parking lot and drop off their medications to the Franklin County, Delaware County, and Licking County Sheriff Deputies. They will accept all unused and expired medications, including pills, liquids, gels, and patches. Medications will not be accepted in the store or by anyone other than a sheriff deputy.

According to statistics, one in four teens has misused or abused a prescription drug at least once, which is a 33 percent increase over the past five years. Since the Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse awareness campaign kicked off in 2011, Franklin County Sheriff officers have disposed of 5.29 tons of drugs collected at these events to date. To learn more about the campaign go to the nbc4i.com community tab and click: Prevent Teen Drug Abuse.

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