Paducah police to host prescription drug take-back event Saturday

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) — The Paducah Police Department and McCracken County Agency for Substance Abuse Policy will partner to host a prescription drug take-back event Saturday, Oct. 24.

The event, held in conjunction with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, will take place from 10 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of the Purchase District Health Department at 916 Kentucky Ave. in Paducah.

Residents can anonymously dispose of unused or expired prescription medications through a drive-thru collection process. No questions will be asked.

Officials will accept pills and patches only. Liquids, needles, syringes, vapes and inhalers will not be accepted.

According to the Paducah Police Department, unused medications kept in homes can increase the risk of misuse, theft, accidental ingestion and overdose.

Police said pediatric overdose and ingestion cases in Kentucky have increased by 104% over the past five years.

The department encourages residents to remove unneeded medications from their homes to help prevent accidental poisonings and prescription drug misuse.

Vendors will also be available during the event to provide free resources to the community.

The event is free and open to the public.