Residents turn in 2,000 pounds of drugs

Area residents turned in more than 2,000 pounds of drugs Saturday as part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back event.

Law enforcement agencies from the surrounding counties and nine of the 10 METRICH regions participated in the event, which is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration and was called a huge success because of community participation resulting in the collection of 2,036.2 pounds of unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs.

Sgt. Steve Blust commended people who participated in the event and the chiefs and sheriffs in their respective communities who realize the importance of properly disposing of prescription drugs.

Ashland County led the area with 421.5 pounds collected, followed by Marion (348), Richland (279), Huron (242.3), Knox (195.6), Crawford (193), Seneca (143.6), Morrow (114.2) and Wyandot (99).

Originally published in the News Journal on May 2, 2016.