Gathered to witness the initial use of the Drug Terminator Portable Drug Incinerator are, back row, left to right, Captain Mark Kraft, Sidney Police Department; Janette McCollum, Checkers; Roger Byer, B&B Builders; Richland County Sheriff John Dynneson and undersheriff Bob Burnison. Front row, left to right, Officer Travis Rosaaen, Sidney Police Department; McKen-Z Ramus, District II Drug & Alcohol and Rachel Leininger, Checkers.
On Thursday, May 2, Richland County law enforcement incinerated drugs which had been deposited in the several drop-off boxes in Richland County, plus any collected by law enforcement that were approved by the courts to destroy.
According to DEA materials, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, held this year on April 27, addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use & Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA's Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Checkers, a drug and alcohol testing company based in Sidney, has seen a remarkable increase in the percentage of people who test positive for alcohol or who refuse a drug test since their beginning in 2014, highlighting the continued drug and alcohol abuse in the area.
The Foundation For Community Care in Sidney has used funds from their annual Red Ribbon week to purchase drop-off boxes at the Law & Justice Center, pharmacies at Sidney Health Center, White Drug, MonDak Clinic and the Hospice Department at Sidney Health Center
In December 2017, with some remaining funds and donations from District II Drug & Alcohol, B&B Builders, Checkers and Franz Construction, the Foundation purchased the Drug Terminator Portable Drug Incinerator. May 2 was the first time it was used to incinerate drugs.
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