The Butler County Sheriff’s Office is asking locals to bring their unwanted prescription drugs in to the Butler County Courthouse instead of flushing them down the toilet.

The sheriff’s office will once again partner with SpectraCare Health Systems for the second Prescription Drug Takeback event of the year.

The event, slated for Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., is a free, anonymous process by which the sheriff’s office and SpectraCare are seeking to safely and discretely dispose of any medications turned in.

“One of the reasons we partner to do these drug takebacks is because prescription drugs—especially opiod pain killers—languishing in homes are very easily obtained by young people,” said Desiree Jones of SpectraCare.

“Another reason is to keep these medications from contaminating our groundwater. The traditional methods of getting rid of unused or out-of-date meds by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential health and safety hazards.”

All citizens have to do is stop by the sheriff’s office at the Butler County Courthouse and drop off unwanted prescriptions.  It’s a process that Butler County sheriff Kenny Harden assures is painless.

“Last time we did it, which was a few months back, we received several thousand pills,” Harden said.

“We’ve done it twice already, and it’s been very successful both times.  If you’ve got medication in your house that you don’t need, just bring it up here and drop it off—that’s all you have to do.  We’ll be sitting at the front desk in the hallway.”

Harden said that events like the Prescription Drug Takeback make a meaningful impact on crime in Butler County.

“We’ve made arrests this year in which people are going into other people’s homes and taking their medication,” Harden added.

“By taking the medication out of your house, you cut down on the possibility of someone breaking into their house and stealing them.”

For more information about the upcoming Prescription Drug Takeback event, contact SpectraCare Prevention Services at 334-673-2143 ext. 1710.