Although not officially approved last night, Bridgeport City Council seems more than agreeable to purchase items needed for the city to create its own prescription drug take back program. The effort would allow the city to have a program year round that used to be offered twice a year by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

 

“The DEA has decided to no longer support the take back drug days that occurred twice a year,” Bridgeport Police Chief John Walker told Council. “The problem with that is that kids will tell you the easiest way to obtain drugs are at home or at grandma’s house.”

 

While Walker believes the DEA will eventually renew the program, there are not only zero guarantees that will happen, but having one available at the city level would allow for prescription drugs to be brought in and disposed of properly every week of the year. Walker said the city would need to purchase a “take-back box,” which is similar to a small mailbox. They would also be required to have an incinerator to dispose of the pills properly. The cost for the incinerator was $4,600.

 

“There is no incinerator in North Central West Virginia. There is perhaps one in all of West Virginia, but we can’t confirm that,” said Walker.

 

What that means is that outdated prescription drugs will be left in most households. That increases the risk of the drugs finding their way into the hands of children or getting into the streets. The new program, if formally adopted, would allow the city’s police department to get rid of the unused and outdated drugs.

 

“It would require us using two officers to property dispose of the drugs. They would have to document what they’re removing and what they’re destroying … The process can take up to three hours to do it correctly,” said Walker.

 

If the incinerator is purchased, it would not be located at city hall. Walker said he anticipated it would be located in an area near the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

 

Drugs would then be able to be dropped off five days a week at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex during regular working hours. Walker said although they wouldn’t accept drugs from other agencies for destruction, he did think it would be open to all individuals from any community. Those details, however, have yet to be ironed out.