The Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) will participate in the 31st National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, Oct. 24.
According to Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux and the ACSO, the take back will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ACSO administration building, located at 85 Harman Park Drive.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) Rocky Mountain Field Division, more than 4,400 collection sites will be set up across the country to dispose of unneeded, expired and unused prescription medications.
“This is a simple step that prevents diversion, reduces the risk of accidental poisoning, and helps protect communities,” a DEA press release states.
“Since 2010, Take Back Day has helped Americans remove more than 20 million pounds of unneeded medications from their homes,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “By participating in Take Back Day, you are preventing potentially addictive medications from falling into the wrong hands — a small step that can save lives. I am grateful to the thousands of law enforcement and community partners who make these events possible, and I urge everyone to take a few minutes on Saturday, Oct. 24, to clean out your medicine cabinets.”
“Every year, we are encouraged by how many people in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana turn out and properly dispose of their unneeded, unwanted, or expired medications,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Mark Putnam. “During the most recent Take Back Day April 25, our four states collected a total of 27,590 pounds of medications that may have otherwise been flushed, thrown in the trash, or simply sat in a medicine cabinet. This is the way to do it.”
What will be collected
• Tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription medications.
• Liquid medications securely sealed in their original containers.
What won’t be collected
• Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs.
Why it matters
Prescription opioids — such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine and morphine — are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Removing unneeded medications from the home reduces the risk of misuse or accidental ingestion, the DEA notes.
For more information, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
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