A number of cities in our area are taking part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s national prescription drug take-back initiative. The DEA points out that this is not only a safety issue, during the ongoing epidemic of prescription drug abuse, but it’s also an environmental issue. If you through those drugs away they could wind up in the area’s groundwater.

In St. Joseph, law enforcement and officials with the St Joseph Youth Alliance will take and dispose of your unwanted or expired prescription and over-the-counter medications in the parking lot of Sears at the East Hills Shopping Center. That event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Here’s a short list of other locations you can take medications for proper disposal (in other areas, check with your local law enforcement agency):
Gallatin, at the Daviess County Courthouse, 102 N. Main St.
Hiawatha, Kan., at the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, 709 Utah St.
Maryville, at Walmart, 1605 S. Main St.
Princeton, at the Mercer County Courthouse, 802 E. Main St.
Tarkio, at Hy-Vee, 110 Chestnut St.