Portage Co. ships nearly 1,000 pounds of drugs collected during take-back
By Brandi Makuski
Law enforcement agencies in Portage Co. shipped out just under half a ton of drugs in October.
It’s the 21st year of the National Drug Take-Back program. The Portage Co. Sheriff’s Office held several collection events in rural areas throughout the end of October, partnered with a special collection day hosted by the Stevens Point Police Department.
Old prescription and over-the-counter drugs are accepted via special drop boxes year-round at all local law enforcement agencies, but special take-back events are held each April and October.
Sheriff Mike Lukas said the three departments collected 975 pounds of drugs last month. That’s up from 918 pounds collected in April.
The annual take-back event is sponsored by the Department of Justice. It’s an effort to prevent abuse of old prescription and over-the-counter medicines, or their improper disposal in the public water supply.
In 2021, the Portage Co. collection totaled about 2,400 pounds between spring and fall events, helping Wisconsin rank number one in the nation for collecting the most OTC and prescription medicines.
According to Attorney General Josh Kaul, the Badger State collected 57,377 pounds of unwanted or leftover medications during last October’s take-back.
Since the program began in 2001, Wisconsin has collected 980,854 pounds of unused or unwanted over-the-counter and prescription medicine, Kaul said.
Wisconsin ranked number two behind California or Texas in previous years, according to the Department of Justice.
The collected medications were boxed, palletized, shrink-wrapped, and secured for transportation to a special facility in Indianapolis, where the drugs were incinerated.
