Geneva police combat prescription drug abuse

With prescription drug abuse on the rise among teens, Geneva police are stepping up efforts to make sure medicine cabinet leftovers don't fall into the wrong hands.

This week, the Geneva Police Department launched its first Prescription Drug Disposal Program to give the public a safe and environmentally friendly way to get rid of expired or unneeded drugs.

Sgt. Mike Frieders said the program was developed with cooperation from Delnor Hospital in Geneva, which agreed to handle the end disposal of the drugs, and the Geneva Coalition for the Youth, which proposed the concept meant to combat prescription drug abuse.

"One of the trends the Drug Enforcement Administration is seeing is teenagers or people of that age group are using them," Frieders said. "Sometimes it's easier to get ahold of them than illegal narcotics or illegal drugs. They can just go to the medicine cabinet."

Another component, Frieders said, is encouraging the public to dispose of medicine properly, rather than putting it in the trash or flushing it down the toilet, where it can seep into the water supply and otherwise cause harm to the environment.

Drop-offs are accepted 24 hours a day at a marked receptacle in the lobby of the police station at 20 Police Plaza. No illegal drugs, syringes or medications from medical businesses are allowed.

For more information, call (630) 232-4736.