Residents cazn dispose of old prescription pills at OPD Saturday, Oct. 24

While illegal drugs frequently get the lion's share of attention from law enforcement efforts, illegal use of legal drugs is a growing problem, according to captain Dennis Cavanaugh of the Lorain County Drug Task Force.

For that reason, the Oberlin police department, and police departments across the county are cooperating with the Lorain County sheriff's office in Operation Medicine Cabinet. The program will give residents the opportunity to safely dispose of outdated or unwanted prescription medicines.

"Street drugs are bad, but prescription medicines are just as bad," Cavanaugh said. "We want to collect any old medication that might be laying around the house so it doesn't get into the wrong hands. We used to say flush it down the toilet, but we don't want things like that in the water supply, either."

Operation Medicine Cabinet will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 14 locations around the county, including the Oberlin police department, 85 S. Main St. No medications will be accepted prior to that date and time, and no needles can be accepted.

Cavanaugh said all prescription labels should be removed prior to arriving at the collection site. He said the program is intended to be completely confidential.

"We don't want any personal information at all," he said. "We don't want anybody to think they are going to be in trouble for turning in their old medication."

Law enforcement officers will hold the medications only until they can be safely disposed.