Prescription Drug Take Back This Weekend
Local law enforcement is once again participating in a national effort to get unused prescription drugs out of homes and out of the wrong hands.
The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and its national, tribal, and community partners is holding a seventh National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26th.
Franklin County Sheriff Stevie Thomas said previous prescription drug take backs in his county was so successful, they decided to leave the drop off bin in the lobby all year long.
“We have a box that sits in the lobby at the Sheriff’s office and that box is there around the clock, 365 days and people come from time to time to drop their prescriptions off,” Thomas said. “The DEA will be coming on the 26th to pick up the drugs.”
Thomas said prescription drugs left in medicine cabinets create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
Last fall’s drug take back in Franklin County netted over 70lbs of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.
In Hart County, people will be able drop off their unused and unwanted prescriptions on Saturday in the lobby of the Hart County Sheriff’s office, according to Sheriff Mike Cleveland.
The DEA says studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained not from strangers, but from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
If you don’t live in Franklin or Hart counties, you can find a collection site near you by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database where you can enter your zip code.
Or you can call toll-free 1-800-882-9539.