Nearly 160 pounds of unwanted or unused prescription drugs were collected in Cowley County Saturday as part of a National Drug Take-Back Day led by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Local collection sites in Arkansas City and Winfield were staffed by members of the Arkansas City Police Department, Cowley County Sheriffs Department and Drug Task Force. A total of 159.5 pounds were collected.
Americans that participated in the previous take-back day last fall, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
When the results of the three prior take-back days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months, according to a written statement from organizers.
The local collection effort was organized by the Cowley County Sheriff’s Department and Drug Task Force, City-Cowley County Health Department and K-State Research and Extension Cowley County.
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