County expects to get anti-drug grant

Paperwork has been filed, and now the waiting begins for Shawano County law enforcement.

Lt. Chris Madle, emergency management director, told the Shawano County Public Safety Committee on Feb. 7 he expects the county to receive a $5,000 grant from an opioid lawsuit settlement. He said the money was made available to law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin.

Madle said the money will be used purchase drug disposal pouches, which can be used by residents to dispose of old and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications.

“Once we get them, I will figure out a way to disperse them equally among the townships, village halls,” he said. “We want to try and reach more of our elderly and rural communities that don’t have the opportunity to get to the city for those drug disposal boxes. Basically, they’ll be able to go to the village hall, community centers, get one of these pouches. They take it home, take any unused, old medication, put it in this pouch, put water in it, mix it up, seal it and throw it in the garbage. It’s deactivated.”

Madle anticipated the grant would cover the cost of between 900 and 1,000 pouches.

Currently, there are four permanent drug disposal boxes in the county. They are at:

• Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, 405 N. Main St., Shawano, all day, every day.

• Shawano Police Department, 125 S. Sawyer St., Shawano, all day, every day.

• Stockbridge-Munsee Health and Wellness Center, W12802 County Road A, Bowler, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• ThedaCare Medical Center, 100 County Road B, Shawano.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications that can be disposed of include capsules, creams, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, ointments, patches, pills and vials.

Liquids must be in their original container. Vape pens and other e-cigarette devices must have the batteries removed.

Among those items not accepted are aerosol cans, anything containing blood or a bodily fluid, household hazardous waste, illegal drugs, iodine containing medications, mercury thermometers, personal care products, sharps or syringes, and vape pens or e-cigarette devices with a built-in battery.

Before using a permanent drop box, remove all personal information from the medication packaging. If this is not possible, use a dark marker to cover up the personal information.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com