Where can I drop off my unused meds in central Ohio?

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Unused and unfinished prescription medications filling up medicine cabinets have a new place to go this weekend.

Law enforcement agencies throughout Franklin County will participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s semiannual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., police and fire departments in Columbus, Worthington, New Albany and other central Ohio communities will accept expired and unused prescription pills for safe disposal.

Locations will accept dry prescription pills with “no questions asked,” according to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. People wishing to drop off other medications, including inhalers, liquid medicines, and creams, should first ask participating locations if they will accept them.

How common is prescription drug misuse?

A 2020 research report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that about 16.1 million people reported nonmedical use of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in the past year. The most commonly misused medications are stimulants, central nervous system depressants (including tranquilizers and sedatives), and opioids.

Nearly half of people who reported misusing prescription pain relievers in the past year got the drugs from a friend or relative, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Another 42% of people began misusing pain relievers after a doctor prescribed them.

In Ohio, unintentional drug overdose has been the leading cause of death since 2007, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Ohio reported its highest number of drug overdose deaths in 2020 with 5,017 — 25% higher than the 4,028 deaths in 2019.

During the last Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in April, the DEA reported collecting more than 721,000 pounds of prescription drugs nationwide.

There are more than 13,000 permanent medication drop-off locations throughout the U.S., according to the DEA. You can search for one by city or ZIP code here.

At Kroger locations, law enforcement officers will accept liquids, gels, patches, and over-the-counter medications in store parking lots. Medications will not be accepted inside stores.

A list of drop-off locations, not including permanent drop-off sites, is below.

Bexley

Bexley Police Department – 559 N. Cassingham Rd.

Blendon Township

Blendon Township Police Department – 6340 Hempstead Rd.

Canal Winchester

Diley Ridge Medical Center (parking lot) – 7911 Diley Road
Kroger – 6095 Gender Road

Chillicothe

Chillicothe VA Medical Center, Building 31 – 17273 OH-104
Kroger – 887 N. Bridge St

Columbus

Columbus Public Health — 240 Parsons Ave.
- Accepting patches, pet medication, vitamins, contained needles/sharps
Columbus Fire Training Academy – 3639 Parsons Ave.
- Accepting liquid medicines
Kroger – 3637 S. High St.
Kroger – 1375 Chambers Road

Dublin