Event with several locations meant to

fight opioid use epidemic

Have some old prescriptions to get rid of? The Clark County Sheriu's Ovce together with the Colby/Abbotsford Police Department would like to take them ou your hands.

Hosting National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday April 30, the euort is meant to reduce illicit painkiller use in Wisconsin. It does this by providing a safe and convenient as well as responsible way to dispose of unused prescriptions, while Locations for the Drug Take Back Day event in Clark County are as follows: • Russell's of Neillsville Parking Lot 1008 E Division St., Neillsville, WI 54456 Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Site Monitored by Neillsville Police Depart ment • Wolf's True Value Parking Lot 315 S Main St., Greenwood, WI 54437 Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Site Monitored by Clark County Sheriu's Ovce • Martin's Fresh Market Parking Lot 707 W 3rd St, Owen, WI 54460 Hours: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Site Monitored by Clark County Sheriu's Ovce Residents who take their prescriptions to these events can help make sure that they don’t turn up in rivers and lakes, as water reclamation facilities aren’t designed to take all of them out of water, then discharged to the larger environment. In the meantime, there are a couple ground rules to be aware of for the April 30 dis posal event.

The first is that participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medications by removing it from its container and putting it directly into a disposal box or else a clear sealable plastic bag. Plastic pill containers should not be collected, though blister packages without the medication removed are acceptable.

Second is that while liquids will be accept – ed during the April 30 initiative they must be in their original packaging, along with creams and sprays. Non-aerosol sprays, vials, patches, inhalers vape pens or other e-cigarette devices will also be accepted, though batteries should be removed. Pet medications will also be accepted.

Third and lastly, illicit substances like marijuana and methamphetamine are not part of the April 30 initiative nor should they be placed in collection containers. The list of what not to bring also includes needles/sharps, acids, aero – sol cans, bio-hazardous materials (defined as anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), personal care products such as shampoos, soaps, lotions, or sunscreens, household hazardous waste (including paint, pesticides, oil, and gas) and mercury thermometers.

Should readers be unable to make the April 30 take back event, meanwhile, several commu nity drop sites for unused prescriptions remain open year round, including the following:

• Thorp Police Department 300 W. Prospect St., Thorp WI 54471 Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. • Loyal Police Department 301 N. Main St., Loyal WI 54446 Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.

• Colby-Abbotsford Police Department 112 W. Spruce St., Abbotsford, WI 54405 Hours: M, T, TH, F 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. • Clark County Sheriu's Ovce 517 Court St., Neillsville WI 54456 Hours: M-S 5a.m.-5 p.m. To keep everyone safe, practice physical distancing when visiting a drug disposal site.