The DeKalb Police Department will once again be participating in a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with the Drug Enforcement Administration. This event will give the public its tenth opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
A collection site will be set up this Saturday April 30th, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the DeKalb Police Department at 700 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb. For your convenience, we will have a representative outside waiting to assist you as you drive up. In case of inclement weather, the drop off will be inside the Police Department at the main lobby.
The program is free and completely anonymous. Members of the DeKalb Police Department see this event as an important service to our community and invite everyone to take this opportunity to clear your homes of expired, unwanted medication and bring it to our Police Department for proper disposal. We look forward to seeing you on April 30th between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Please be advised, we cannot accept liquid medications or syringes/sharps.
If you have questions or are unable to attend this drop-off event and have unwanted medications to dispose of, call DPD’s Community Relations Officer, Chad McNett, at 815.748.8439. To make alternate arrangements or for small quantities, use our drop box in our lobby at any time, any day of the year.
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