Event battles increasing problem in the U.P.
MARQUETTE -- The U.P.'s participation numbers in Saturday's prescription drug Take-Back Initiative shocked even many law enforcement agencies.
In five of the locations TV6 was able to contact with just one-half of the all U.P. sites participating, 230 pounds of pharmaceuticals were collected.
The Marquette Police Department alone collected 67 pounds.
Saturday's Take-Back gave the public an avenue to dispose unneeded prescription drugs and potentially battle an increasing problem in the U.P.
"We have a lot of problems with prescription drug abuse, and getting the pills out of the houses maybe will take away the temptation or the ability of someone to abuse some of those drugs," says Sergeant Ryan Grim of the Marquette City Police Department.
Drug disposal in the landfill or water supply is hazardous, so the collected drugs will be sent to the DEA to be incinerated.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC