140 Pounds Of Unwated Medications Collected In Solon

SOLON, OH — The DEA's national Drug Take Back Day was Saturday and Solon police helped collect unwanted medications from residents.

Throughout the day, residents dropped off 140.6 pounds of medications. The prescriptions filled six boxes, according to the city of Solon.

"Thank you for your hard work to keep these medications from being abused and preventing them from entering our water supply!" the city said on social media.

The DEA's last Take Back Day in October collected more than 500 tons of unwanted prescription drugs.

Opioid overdose deaths spiked during the pandemic, the DEA reported. Many drug addictions begin with prescriptions. Some 83,544 Americans died between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was the most overdose deaths ever recorded in a 12-month period.

"A surge in overdose deaths this year has already put many communities in Northern Ohio on track to meet or eclipse overdose numbers not seen since 2017," said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan. "Participation in this year's Prescription Drug Take Back Day is even more important as law enforcement fights back against this increase. We ask that everyone look through their homes and medicine cabinets for any unused prescription drugs for safe disposal at one of DEA's identified locations throughout Northern Ohio. Taking part in Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a significant way for all residents to help us combat this crisis."

The increase in overdoses began before the pandemic but accelerated sharply in the first few months of COVID-19's spread. Many people battling addiction abused prescriptions taken from family and friends, so clearing out the medicine cabinet is essential, the DEA said.