Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
Madison — The state will take the lead in collecting and disposing of unused prescription drugs, now that the federal program has ended.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice says it will provide personnel and logistics for disposing of the excess drugs. Attorney General Brad Schimel says unused prescription opioids need to be collected and destroyed, in part to keep them from polluting the environment.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration began to conduct take-back events in 2010, but ended that practice late in 2014. Schimel says local law enforcement agencies don’t have the manpower to collect the drugs. So, the Department of Justice will hold a minimum of two collections per year.
A statewide collection effort last September resulted in disposal of more than 17 tons of unused prescription medication.