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Local News

Friday, July 30, 2010

Group to hand out collection bags for unused medications
Hancock County Health Dept.
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

More than two-thirds of the people who get hooked on pain pills get their drugs from family or friends, according to Precia Stuby, director of the Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services board.

Often these drugs are stolen from medicine cabinets and cupboards during visits, or even during an open house, Stuby said.

"Out it goes and people don't even know it," she said.

That's why members of the Hancock County Prescription and Opiate Abuse Task Force are advising people to get rid of medicines they don't need.

"Everyone who goes to the emergency room or has a procedure done, they get 30 Percocets or 30 OxyContin or 30 Vicodin," said John Stanovich, who is leading the task force. "And very seldom do we use all 30 of them, and so the balance of them sits in our house."

The safest way to get rid of these medications is during community collection days, but Stuby says collections aren't frequent enough.

To encourage safe storage between collections, the task force will make bags available. People can take the bags home with them, drop unused or expired medications in, and store them until the next collection.

"We always hope people will lock them up, but we know that is not feasible for everybody," said Annie Altman, training and public information officer for the board. Making sure the medications are out of sight helps, she said.

The outside of the bags will list safe ways to store medications between collection dates.

The bags should be available in about a month.

Addicts and dealers go as far as scanning obituaries looking for people who were under hospice care and likely had prescribed pain medications, Stanovich said.

"They'll earmark those people, and break into their homes, potentially," he said. "We have a whole bunch of really creative people out there ... looking for ways to get these medications."

Medication should not be flushed down the toilet, said Randy Greeno, superintendent of Findlay's Water Pollution Control Center.

"Once that gets flushed down the toilet, it comes to the treatment center and we don't have any way of treating that," Greeno said.

Traces of medication are showing up in streams, he said.

Bags will available around the community and at the board office, 438 Carnahan Ave. For more information call 419-424-1985.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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1 Comment

Jeanne wrote:
Thank You!
“ For the first time I see someone giving the people good ideas about disposal - how about giving information about safe disposal of needles and syringes? ”
Friday, July 30, 2010 9:47:59 AM
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Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.