Prescription Drug Take-Back Day brings in unwanted prescriptions

A drug take-back campaign on Saturday offered the chance to do a little housecleaning and possibly save some lives in the process.

"Getting them out of the medicine cabinets," Aaron Barnes said. "Getting them off the streets, getting them out of the hands of potentially children."

Barnes was one of the many volunteers at more than a dozen drop-off locations across the metro. For him, the event is personal.

"I have a past with some opioid issues," Barnes said. "As a recovering addict, it makes a lot of difference to go out and volunteer in my community."

Barnes went through treatment nearly three years ago. Ever since then, he has made it his mission to help others, and to get unwanted medicines off the streets.

It is an epidemic that has even gotten the attention of the White House this week. One that seems to be getting worse rather than better.

People from around the metro like Richard Kirchhoff dropped off thousands of pounds of meds Saturday.

He is happy events like this are around, and he said it is so easy to get involved.

"Grabbed some of the prescriptions in our medicine cabinet," Kirchhoff said. "I put them in a bag and dropped them off."

For every bag and every pill bottle dropped off, Barnes said it is another reminder of just how important this truly is.

"It's an awesome event," Barnes said. "I think it's fantastic."

The event wrapped up at 2 p.m. Saturday. 6 News is told the last drive brought in more than 4,000 pounds of prescription drugs.