North Egypt News

Illinois state Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) recently participated in a drug take back event in Metropolis with state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).

"Senator Dale Fowler and I had a great drug take back event today in Metropolis," Windhorst said in an April 22 Facebook post. "Thank you to the Metropolis Police Department and the Massac County Drug Awareness Coalition for making it a success!"

In a news release on his website, Fowler said the event gives residents an opportunity to get rid of old medicines while keeping the water supply from contamination by the discarded meds.

“It’s incredibly important to properly dispose of your unwanted or expired medications,” Fowler said in the release. “By doing this, trained professionals can properly dispose of this medication so it’s not a hazard for the future. I am proud to partner with Representative Windhorst and the Massac County Drug Awareness Coalition for this event.”

The Metropolis Drug Take Back event was part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, a program that "aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications," a release from the U.S. Department of Justice said.

"The program encourages residents to bring unwanted or unused prescriptions so to police so that they can safely dispose them," a WSIL-TV report said regarding the event. "These pictures were taken at the event in Metropolis, that's where State Representative Patrick Windhorst and State Senator Dale Fowler were today, lending a hand with boxes full of prescription drugs. Metropolis Police and Massac County Drug Awareness Coalition also helped."

Windhorst was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018, the General Assembly website said. His legislative experience includes serving on the Restorative Justice and Judiciary-Criminal committees. He resides in Metropolis.