News Releases
Drug Take-Back day this Saturday
(Sent: 2012-04-26 15:45:22)NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Contact: Sgt. Steve Lewis, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, (785) 832-5204 or Rob Neff, Lawrence Police Department, (785) 830-7400
Drug Take-Back day this Saturday
(Lawrence, Kan.) - On Saturday April 28, 2012 the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Lawrence Police Department are participating in the nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back Day.” The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is coordinating with state and local law enforcement agencies to collect expired, unused, or unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs. There are two collection sites in Lawrence this year. One is the short-term parking lot next to the county courthouse. The other is the Lawrence Police Department at 4820 Bob Billings Parkway. We will accept unwanted medications between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., Saturday April 28th. The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.
This is the fourth national prescription drug Take-Back initiative coordinated by the DEA. The public is encouraged to dispose of all solid dosage pharmaceuticals, such as tablets and capsules. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain securely sealed in the original container. We cannot accept inhalers, intra-venous solutions, injectibles, needles, or illegal drugs. Participants may dispose of a medication in its original container, and are advised to remove or mark out any identifying information from the prescription label. All items are placed in a secure box and collected by the DEA for destruction.
Each year as much as 40% of all prescription medications go unused, representing some 1.5 billion doses a year. It is little wonder prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. By removing unwanted medicines from home cabinets we reduce the opportunity for abuse, and decrease the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses. It also gives participants a way to properly dispose of unwanted medicines in a safe, legal, and environmentally sound way, instead of flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away.
The City of Lawrence/Douglas County Household Hazardous Waste Facility can accept medications throughout the year but hours are by appointment only. The Household Hazardous Waste Facility cannot accept certain controlled substances including narcotics. For more information on the Household Hazardous Waste Facility, visit www.lawrencerecycles.org.
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