FOR THE TOMAHAWK LEADER

ONEIDA COUNTY – The Three Lakes Police Department, the Rhinelander Police Department, the Minocqua Police Department and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), will give the public another opportunity to prevent prescription medication abuse and prescription medication theft by eliminating their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Citizens are encouraged to bring medications for disposal to the Minocqua Police Department, Rhinelander Police Department, Three Lakes Police Department or the Oneida County Landfill between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Law enforcement will accept prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, inhalers, patches non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials, and pet-medications. All waste pharmaceuticals must be generated by a household – no businesses are allowed.

Illegal drugs, needles/sharps, mercury thermometers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), flares, personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, sunscreens, etc.), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, chemicals, oil, or gas) or acids will not be accepted.

Participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medication(s) by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into a disposal box or into a clear sealable plastic bag. Plastic pill containers should not be collected. Blister packages without the medications being removed are acceptable.

Liquids will be accepted during this initiative. However, the liquids, creams and sprays must be in their original packaging. Liquids without the original packaging will not be accepted.

Illicit substances, such as marijuana or methamphetamine, are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Community members are also reminded that many drug disposal boxes are open year-round.

For more information, contact Officer Devon Gaszak (Minocqua Police Department, 715-356-3234), Captain Hook (Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, 715-361-5100), Captain Lueneburg (Rhinelander Police Department, 715-365-5300) or Chief Lea (Three Lakes Police Department, 715-546-2211).