UTAH DUMPS A TON OF PILLS

SALT LAKE CITY — Utahns dumped more than 3,000 pounds of drugs last month as part of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's national "Take-Back" campaign.

The DEA and local law enforcement sponsored the initiative to gather unused prescription and over-the-counter medications for proper disposal. There were 27 collection points set up in the state on Sept. 25, stretching from Blanding to North Logan and there are more set to be open for collection this weekend.

Utah residents already dropped off 3,076.8 pounds of drugs to official sites, according to the DEA's Rocky Mountain Division office. Of other states in the division, Colorado collected 9,257.8 pounds; Montana 1,195.5 pounds and Wyoming 622.2 pounds. Nationally, the DEA took in 242,000 pounds of pills.

Congress has cleared legislation that will allow the DEA to create a permanent solution for prescription drug disposal. Currently, there are no legal means to transfer possession of certain prescription drugs for disposal. Until permanent regulations are in place, the agency plans to hold one-day take-back programs. Officials discourage flushing unwanted pills down a toilet.

Several Utah police departments have permanent collections boxes. For more information about proper medication disposal, including a list of collection-box locations, visit www.medicationdisposal.utah.gov.

— Dennis Romboy

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