Initiative Aims To Combat Rise Of Prescription Drug Overdoses

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People will be able to drop off unwanted prescription drugs to police during the National Drug Take-Back Initiative event.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take-Back Initiative event will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Police said people will be able to drop off “potentially dangerous” prescriptions at designated sites throughout the county with no questions asked about their medical history or how they obtained the medications.

“Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. In addition, many teenagers that abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends’ home medicine cabinets,” police said in the release.

Police said the initiative offers a safe way for people to properly dispose of drugs rather than risking possible water contamination if flushed down the toilet. Drugs that are thrown in the trash can cause a contamination hazard through soil absorption, police said.

Tablets, capsules, patches and other prescription drugs will be accepted. Liquids, syringes, sharps and other drugs will not be accepted.