Residents Question Health Board Action: Report Reveals Severe Rodent Infestation at Ashland Discount Drug Mart
ASHLAND – After the Ashland County Board of Health abruptly shut down Discount Drug Mart on Claremont Avenue earlier this week, many residents were left asking what exactly prompted the emergency order. A press release and inspection report obtained by ACP News through a public records request provides a clearer picture: health officials discovered a severe rodent infestation that they say created an “imminent health hazard.”
Pharmacy Drive-Thru Cleared, But Store Remains Closed
In a Wednesday press release, the Ashland County Health Department (ACHD) confirmed that while the main store remains closed, the pharmacy’s drive-thru has been cleared to reopen as of September 10, 2025. Officials said they inspected the pharmacy area and found no evidence of rodent activity there, though Discount Drug Mart employees must follow strict safety procedures when accessing the space through the contaminated building.
“The Discount DrugMart building remains closed until Environmental Health Specialists from ACHD confirm the building’s unsanitary conditions are no longer a threat to the public’s health,” the statement said.
ACHD also emphasized that neighboring Miller’s (Hawkins) Market was inspected on the same day and cleared without issue.
Inspection Findings: Widespread Evidence of Mice
According to the State of Ohio Food Inspection Report, the findings were far more than minor violations. Inspectors described mice as “pervasive” and noted difficulty finding areas of the store where there was not evidence of activity.
The report highlighted several alarming issues:
Food contamination: Rodent droppings were found on shelving alongside food items, with torn packaging and spillage. Bags of chips and pet food were observed ripped open and surrounded by droppings. Inspectors also noted evidence of nesting materials and multiple dead mice under shelving.
Employee health concerns: Several workers told inspectors they felt unwell after cleaning large amounts of rodent feces.
Repeat violations: Gaps in the loading dock door—previously cited in past inspections—still allowed pests to easily enter.
Sanitation issues: Soil buildup and droppings were widespread under shelving, behind equipment, and in storage areas. Inspectors observed stagnant brown water pooled beneath the main water shutoff valve, providing a water source for rodents.
Cluttered storage: Stacks of boxes and clutter in back rooms created harborage conditions that made cleaning and inspection nearly impossible.
The report concluded that the infestation was an urgent public health concern, requiring immediate pest control, facility-wide cleaning, and disposal of any contaminated food products.
The Board of Health issued the emergency closure on Tuesday, September 9, after reviewing the report. Emergency orders are reserved for conditions that pose an immediate threat to public health.
ACHD officials say they will continue working with Discount Drug Mart and professional pest control specialists to bring the store back into compliance. Until then, the public will only have access to the drive-thru pharmacy.
On Wednesday morning, employees at the Claremont Avenue store could be seen disposing of shopping baskets filled with food-related items into a large dumpster outside, part of the required cleanup effort following the closure.
The sudden closure, coupled with vivid details from the inspection, has left many Ashland residents shocked and concerned. While ACHD has assured the public that the pharmacy is safe to use, questions remain about when the store will reopen and how widespread the contamination may have been.
ACP News will continue following developments as Discount Drug Mart works through remediation efforts.
