Kentucky expands list of permanent locations for safe disposal of unneeded or expired prescription medications

Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that Kentucky now has 149 permanent prescription drug disposal locations in 97 counties where Kentuckians can safely dispose of unused or expired medications in order to help curb the state’s prescription drug abuse problem.

“The effects of prescription drug abuse are devastating to our families and our communities,” Beshear said in a news release. “Medications, once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purposes, should be disposed of properly to reduce their risk of being diverted and abused . . . “

Counties with permanent disposal boxes are shown on the map below in green. The boxes are monitored to ensure safe drug disposal and are located in law enforcement buildings. There are two pending locations, one in Ohio County and one in Franklin County, as shown in light blue. The 23 counties in white do not have permanent disposal locations.

“One in five of our Kentucky teens has abused prescription medication for an off-label purpose, and that abuse is starting in the home when children have access to their parents’ unused or expired pain medications,” Attorney General Jack Conway said in the news release.

The disposal boxes are funded by Kentucky Agency for Substance Abuse Policy, Operation Unite, Kentucky League of Cities and state and local law enforcement agencies, says the release.  Click here for a complete listing of locations and hours of operation.