MADISON — Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel announced on Wednesday, May 4th that 62,618 lbs. of prescription drugs were collected on Saturday, April 30th during the state’s drug take-back day. That’s a 40 percent increase over the October 2015 total which at the time was a record-breaking collection.
In a news release, Schimel issued the following statement:
“Safe disposal of prescription medications, whether on drug take-back day or at a permanent drug disposal drop box, prevents these potentially dangerous drugs from falling into the wrongs hands where they may be abused. I am incredibly appreciative of companies like Schneider National Trucking and Covanta Energy Corporation for donating their services and to all our law enforcement partners across Wisconsin for organizing and providing the proper means for safe drug disposal.”
May 2015
October 2015
April 2016
Participating Law Enforcement Agencies
194
226
238
Take-back Events
131
97
128
Permanent Drop Boxes
152
226
256
Total Medication Collected (lbs.)
39,783
44,698
62,618
Officials say the 62,618 lbs. of prescription drugs have been boxed, palletized, shrink wrapped, and secured in three Schneider National Trucking semi-trailers for transportation to Covanta Energy Corporation in Indianapolis, where the drugs will be incinerated on Wednesday, May 4th.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), preliminary numbers show last weekend’s collection is the largest amount of drugs that has been collected by any state during drug take-back day since the program’s inception.