Event fosters public safety, DEA and police officers point out
On Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., the Sarasota Police Department and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office will partner with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, the agencies have announced.
The event will allow members of the community “to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs,” a news release explains.
While a drop-box in the lobby of the Sarasota Police Department is available year-round for disposal of such medications, that agency’s release notes, residents are encouraged to bring their expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs on April 27 to the Police Department Headquarters, which stands at 2099 Adams Lane in Sarasota (34237), or to the Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center, which is located at 1750 17th St. in Sarasota, the release adds.
Residents also may bring medications to the drop-box located in the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office headquarters, which stands at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd. in Sarasota. The hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office says in a separate release.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” the Police Department release points out. “Medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse,” it says. Access to unused or expired prescription medications can lead to accidental poisoning, overdoses and abuse, the release notes. Further, unused prescription medications thrown in the trash “can be retrieved, abused, or illegally sold. Proper disposal of unused drugs can save lives and protect the environment. Prescription drugs unused and flushed can contaminate water supplies,” the release adds.
Officers will collect only tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs, the release emphasizes.
The DEA National Take-Back Day is free and anonymous, with no questions asked, the release points out.
During the last National Take-Back Day, in October 2023, the DEA collected 300 tons (599,897 pounds) of expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications nationwide, the release notes. Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com or by calling 800-882-9539, the release says.