Kearneysville, WV – Local law enforcement has a new tool to help rid our area of illegal and dangerous drugs. On Tuesday, June 11, representatives from police agencies in Morgan, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties gathered at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department to receive a brief training on the use of a new drug incinerator. The incinerator, provided via a SAP Block Grant, administered by Potomac Highlands Guild, and Eastern Regional Family Resource Network’s local OnTrack substance abuse prevention initiative, will be housed in a location easily accessible to officers from the three counties.
This device can be used to destroy drugs from seizures as well as to safely dispose of materials collected at secure drug return drop boxes. Community members are encouraged to bring any leftover medications of any kind, particularly prescription opioids, narcotics or pain killers to a secure drop box, located at many area police departments. There is no question asked when someone brings drugs to be turned in. Check out the list of updated list of drop boxes.
Joanna Kuhn, director of ERFRN, stresses that it is important for all parents and grandparents to realize that a vital part of preventing first substance abuse is to keep children and teens from having access to dangerous prescription medications which may be in the home.
Morgan County Partnership assisted OnTrack in coordinating with law enforcement. Summer Goller, STOP Act Grant Director with MCP, attended the demonstration, along with several other coordinators in substance abuse prevention. Summer explained, “Morgan County Partnership and our larger community substance abuse prevention coalition support law enforcement in the tri-county area and encourage the use of the incinerator for safe RX disposal to keep drugs out the hands of our youth.”
