Wisconsin stepped up its game in the fight against prescription drug abuse, as the statewide Drug Take Back Initiative, held on April 26th, saw locals dropping off a staggering 56,818 pounds of medications, placing Wisconsin at the forefront nationally in the collection of unused drugs. This initiative, as reported by the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department, provides a practical option for individuals looking to safely discard expired or unneeded medications, while simultaneously educating the public on the perils of not properly storing or disposing of these substances.
The program, which falls under the banner of the national campaign spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, saw local law enforcement in Waukesha County collaborate with the Wisconsin Department of Justice to manage collection sites drawing considerable community participation, with the City of Oconomowoc leading the county by contributing 721.0 pounds as part of Waukesha County's total haul of 6,145 pounds. According to the sheriff's department's social media post, the collected prescription drugs are part of a concerted effort, a gesture indicative of a community's resolve to purge the plague of potential prescription medication misuse.
More permanent solutions are also in place with established drug disposal boxes located within local police departments that allow residents year-round opportunities to rid themselves of these substances safely. Information regarding disposal tips and locations for these permanent collection sites can be found on the Department of Health Services 'Opioid' page for Wisconsin, a state that leads by example with its diligent efforts in combating prescription drug abuse.
Captain Tony Kasta of the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office expressed the collective pride in the accomplishment, illustrated by detailed results of collection efforts across the county where cities and villages contributed notably, and whereby even the Village of Lannon, though on the smaller side, still managed to collect 15 pounds of medication, these figures a testament to the collective effort of Wisconsin's communities who took a stand against a national crisis by making a local change.
