Citizens Dispose of More Than 77 Pounds of Unwanted, Old Prescriptions

Hundreds of Hennepin County residents dropped off more than 77 pounds of unwanted, unused or expired controlled medications and filled 11 large barrels with over-the-counter medicines during Hennepin County's Medicine Collection Event June 2 at Richfield Ice Arena.

The collection event aimed to give residents the opportunity to safely dispose of their unwanted medicines at no cost, while also keeping the controlled substances out of the wrong hands.

 The top three categories of controlled medications collected were:

1) Hydrocodone, including Lorcet and Vicodin;

2) Oxycodone, including OxyContin and Percocet;

3) Codeine, including Cosanyl and Robitussin.

Among the over-the-counter medications collected were cough syrup, vitamins or supplements, and pet medications.

“This collection event helped to reduce the supply of medications that might have wound up in the wrong hands and misused or abused by teens,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek in a press release. "People who participated in the event safely disposed of medications that are most often diverted for illegal sale or abuse.”