This Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day and the DEA is urging people to get rid of unused and expired prescription medications. The Drug Enforcement Agency sets both a spring and fall takeback day for people to get rid of their old medications. During the last spring takeback day, law enforcement agencies collected 335 tons of pills nationwide. Ohio had the 3rd highest amount, behind Wisconsin and Texas, collecting more than 41 tons of old prescription medication.

Local law enforcement is warning the public about scammers targeting people who are changing pharmacies because of the Rite Aid closures. According to the Findlay police, scammers are calling people pretending to be another pharmacy, offering to help them transfer their prescriptions, but they are trying to get your personal information to steal your identity. 

August 28, 2024, Press Release from AARP Ohio: COLUMBUS, Ohio-Today, AARP released a report that shows an estimated 127,193 of Ohioans on Medicare prescription drug plans will see savings thanks to a new out-of-pocket cap that starts January 1, 2025. The savings are made possible by a provision in the 2022 prescription drug law that AARP championed which caps out-of-pocket prescription drug costs every year, beginning at $2,000 next year, for America’s 56 million Medicare drug plan enrollees.

July 25, 2024, Press Release from Lima Memorial Health System: Lima Memorial Health System is pleased to announce that its Postgraduate Year One (PGY1) Pharmacy Residency Program has been reaccredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) through 2028. This significant achievement highlights Lima Memorial’s unwavering commitment to excellence in pharmacy education and supporting the future of Great Care in our community.

ADA, OH (WLIO) - Ada police officers are looking for suspects who took prescription medication from the Rite Aid pharmacy Monday night. The department released this picture of one of the robbery suspects caught on surveillance video. Officers were called to Rite Aid just before 9 p.m. The suspects were described as three black males with black clothing and wearing COVID-style masks. They didn't show any weapons, and no one was reported injured. They did leave on foot with prescription medication. Officers believe they got into a car with a fourth individual and left the area. 

Rite Aid has announced that more stores will be permanently closing across Ohio including one locally. According to documents from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the Rite Aid location at 1502 Executive Drive in St. Marys was included on that closure list with the store already putting up signs saying that everything must go.

June 4, 2024, Press Release from the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: (COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order today authorizing the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately classify nine synthetic opioids as Schedule I controlled substances, effectively banning their sale and use in the state. These nine synthetic opioids are known as nitazenes. Initially developed decades ago as potential alternatives for morphine that were never approved for medical use, new nitazene compounds are increasingly being found in the illicit drug supply in Ohio.

Patients rely on pharmacists every day to make sure that their prescriptions are filled out correctly. Becoming a pharmacist takes a lot of training to prepare them for that responsibility, and at Mercy Health St. Rita's, college post-graduates can continue their education with a residency.

The Family Resource Center hosted an open house on Monday to unveil the recently completed remodeling of their Hancock County Headquarters. Staff and community members gathered at the 1941 Carlin Street facility in Findlay to see the $1.75 million of renovations that were made.