Drive to collect unused prescription drugs starts on October 3

In an effort to keep unused prescription drugs out of the hands of pre-teens and teenagers, DDN executive Joe Otto enlisted the support of Menomonee Falls Police Chief Anna Ruzinski, Community Memorial Hospital, and his company. As a result, Community Memorial Hospital will serve as collection site when Waukesha County kicks off its first drug collection program on October 3.

Otto, DDN’s Vice President of Information Technology, said he and many others in his suburban community of Whitefish Bay were moved to action following the death last March of 15-year-old Whitefish Bay High School student, Maddie Kiefer, who overdosed on prescription drugs that had not been prescribed to her.

Immediately following Kiefer’s death Otto began researching ways to make children and parents more aware of the dangers of prescription drugs. “Last year more teens got high on prescription medicine than cocaine, meth and ecstasy combined,” explained Otto. “One major problem is that kids think that because a medication is kept in your bathroom or sold in stores it doesn't carry just as many risks as illegal street drugs,” he said.

Supported by DDN and the Menomonee Falls Police Department, Otto and Chief Ruzinski sponsored a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on local radio station B93.3 prior to summer school release. Otto and Ruzinski then continued to work together to make the drug collection effort a reality. “Putting together a drug collection and disposal effort is a very costly endeavor,” said Ruzinski. “Disposal alone can cost upwards of $10,000 for a one-day collection effort for a city the size of Menomonee Falls. Police and pharmacists must also be onsite for drug classification purposes and security reasons,” she added.

After enlisting Community Memorial Hospital as a collection site, Chief Ruzinski learned of Waukesha County’s paralleled initiative, so the two groups joined forces, adding Menomonee Falls as a collection point. Community Memorial Hospital pharmacists will donate their time, as will several members of the Menomonee Falls Police Department. DDN and Dohmen (its parent company) are assisting with additional sponsorship funds to help pay the disposal and publicity fees for the local effort.

Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas said he sees the disposal program as a way to cut prescription drug abuse and accidental poisonings. He adds that the effort also aims to keep residents from flushing their unused prescription drugs down the sink or toilet, putting unwanted substances in local waterways.

Residents can bring prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, ointments, sprays, inhalers, creams, vials, herbals and pet medications to the pharmacists who will be on hand at the drive through collection points.

All collection times are 9 a.m. to noon, except at Waukesha County Technical Institute in Pewaukee, where collection will be 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to WCTC and Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, other sites include Pilgrim Park Middle School in Elm Grove, Waukesha West High School and Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital.