Sheriff's Sgt. Craig Loiselle, Jenny Stormoen, a records specialist with the Plover Police Department, and Officer Joe Kramer said the Stevens Point Police Department. (Metro Wire photo)

Portage County collects 1,200 pounds of medication during Drug Take Back Day

By Brandi Makuski

STEVENS POINT – Portage County law enforcement agencies collected more than half a ton of unused or expired medications during Wisconsin’s Drug Take Back Day, with boxes loaded for disposal at the sheriff’s office on Oct. 27.

Jenny Stormoen, a records specialist with the Plover Police Department, said her department boxed up 12 containers — a sharp increase from previous events.

“It’s way up, and it all came in the week before we boxed everything up,” Stormoen said.

Officer Joe Kramer said the Stevens Point Police Department collected 13 boxes, while Sgt. Craig Loiselle reported 19 from the Portage County Sheriff’s Office.

Combined, the three agencies gathered about 1,200 pounds of medication.

The collected drugs were loaded into a transport truck at the Sheriff’s Office and sent to an incineration facility in Indiana for safe destruction.

Drug Take Back Day is part of a statewide effort led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to encourage residents to dispose of unused prescriptions safely, preventing misuse and protecting the environment.