Miamisburg, Ohio ? May 1, 2012:  Local citizens now have a convenient way to properly dispose of unneeded, unwanted or expired medications anytime.

The Miamisburg Police Department recently obtained an Rx Drug Drop Box through a National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) program and installed it in a public area of the Department.  Citizens are encouraged to bring their pills or medical patches (no needles or liquids accepted) to the station at the Civic Center during normal business hours and place them in the Drop Box for safe disposal.

The NADDI Rx Drug Drop Box program, funded through a grant by Endo Pharmaceuticals, addresses a vital public health and safety issue.  The rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is alarmingly high, and medicines that languish at home are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.  Studies show that individuals who abuse prescription drugs often obtain them from family and friends, sometimes from home medicine cabinets.

?There is a great need for a permanent solution in which these medicines can be properly disposed of quickly and anonymously,? Miamisburg Police Chief John Sedlak said.  ?This secure mailbox-style box enables people to walk in and deposit their unwanted or expired medications, and we hope our residents will take advantage of this new service.? 

It is not environmentally safe to dispose of medications by flushing them down a toilet or placing them in the trash, because these substances can ultimately find their way to rivers, streams and drinking water.  NADDI programs last year accepted millions of dosage units of various pharmaceuticals.  This spring another 100 Rx Drug Drop Boxes were distributed free to qualifying law enforcement agencies across the country.

Questions about this new service may be directed to the Police Department at 847-6600.

#                        #                        #