WEIRTON - Residents looking to get rid of their unused prescription drugs have a new location in Weirton beginning this week.
On Monday, officials with the City of Weirton and Advocates for Substance Abuse Prevention unveiled a new prescription drop box to be housed at the Weirton Police Department.
Jason Rine, drug free communities coordinator with ASAP, explained the purpose of the drop boxes is to keep unused drugs off the street, away from children and away from potential abusers.
Article Photos
NEW BOX — Standing in the police department with the new drug drop box are, from left, Capt. Rick Stead; Ward 4 Councilman George Ash; Jan Futey and Jason Rine, both of ASAP; Code Official Larry Ritchie; Mayor George Kondik; Police Chief Bruce Marshall and Sgt. Ricky Grishkevich. -- Craig Howell
In particular, it provides a place for families who have relatives who have died and left prescription medications.
"This is the fifth one in Brooke and Hancock counties," Rine said.
The boxes are provided through a Drug Free Communities Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Office of Drug Control Policy.
Rine said the reaction from the local communities has been good, with many people using the boxes, which also are located in the Hancock and Brooke county courthouses, as well as in Chester and Follansbee.
"This is a safe way to get ride of them," Rine said.
Ward 4 Councilman George Ash said the boxes are sturdy, which will prevent people from breaking into them.
"There's no way anyone can take anything out of it," Ash, who also works with ASAP, explained.
According to Weirton Police Chief Bruce Marshall said residents wishing to use the box to dispose of their pharmaceuticals can bring them to the police department weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and speak to the staff at the front desk. They will be able to accept the pharmaceuticals and deposit them into the box.
ASAP works on substance abuse prevention activities throughout Hancock and Brooke counties. The group meets at noon on the second Thursday of each month at the Brooke-Hancock Family Resource Network.
For more information on the group, call (304) 748-7850 or go online to Brookehancockfrn.org.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)
