KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County area law enforcement agencies are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) annual Pharmaceutical Take-Back Initiative on April 28, 2018, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Kaufman County area law enforcement agencies are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) annual Pharmaceutical Take-Back Initiative on April 28, 2018, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The collaborative effort aims at removing potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets throughout the country by providing a safe collection site for persons to anonymously surrender pharmaceuticals which will be destroyed by the DEA.
According to the DEA's website, three agencies in Kaufman County are participating: the Terrell Police Department; Kaufman Police Department; and Kemp Police Department.
“Terrell Police Department has participated in this event since it began in 2010. In the 2017 events, several residents disposing of their medicines commented they were happy that the Terrell Police Department was participating in this event and appreciated the ability to safely disposal of these medicines,” stated Terrell Police Department Sergeant Pritchard.
The Terrell Police Department will host their take-back at Terrell Police Department headquarters located at 1100 North State Highway 34, the Kaufman Police Department will host their event at the Kaufman Christian Help Center at 400 South Terrell Highway, also known as SH 34, and the Kemp Police Department will host their event at the police department located at 100 South State Highway 274.
"A recent U.S. government report shows that more than 70 percent of people who first misuse prescription drugs get them from their friends, relatives or simply take them without asking," stated a release from the DEA.
"According to the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 4.2 percent of Americans aged 12 or older engaged in nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past year," stated the release. "Nonmedical use is defined as the use of prescription-type drugs not prescribed for the user by a physician or used only for the experience or feeling they cause."
"According to the 2013 Monitoring the Future Survey, over 28 percent of 12th graders had abused prescription medications in the past 12 months," continued the release.
"These statistics magnify the need for proper disposal of unused or expired prescription medications."
Other area drop-off locations include:
Mesquite Police Department at 777 North Galloway
Balch Springs Police Department at 12500 Elam Road
Rockwall Police Community Services at 1113 Ridge Road
To view more drop-off locations, click here.