Coroner's office is collection site for prescription drug disposal

Kane County Coroner Rob Russell recently announced that the coroner's office has recently become a Drug Enforcement Administration collection site for disposal of prescription drugs.

Proper prescription drug disposal is important because studies have shown that prescription drug abuse promotes heroin use and addiction.

Many prescriptions, such as painkillers, have frequently been stolen from medicine cabinets of homes because people who no longer need them are unaware of an outlet to get rid of them properly.

"There are some DEA prescription drop-off points in the county, but my goal is to promote this program heavily and get as many sites as possible in the county," Russell said. "We will take any medication from anywhere in the county."

The coroner's office will be open to accept unwanted prescription drugs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Russell also said that the office will be participating in the National Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26.

There also will be a Coroner's Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at the coroner's office, 719 S. Batavia Ave. in Geneva.

They also will be accepting unwanted prescription drugs on that day, as well as tours of the office and morgue.

"This office belongs to the people of Kane County and most of them have never been invited to see it. I want to hear the opinions of what they see," Russell said. The tour will be age appropriate and sensitive to all who enter.

For details, visit www.countyofkane.org/Pages/coroner.aspx.