FORNEY, Texas — The Forney and Terrell Police Departments will host National Prescription Drug Take-Back events on Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and their respective headquarters buildings.
FORNEY, Texas — The Forney and Terrell Police Departments will host National Prescription Drug Take-Back events on Saturday, April 29, 2017, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and their respective headquarters buildings.
The events are held in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to collect potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs aimed at preventing pill abuse, theft, and improving safety.
“Last October, Americans turned in 366 tons (over 730,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners,” according to a joint press release by the DEA and Terrell Police Department. “Overall, in its 12 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 7.1 million pounds—more than 3,500 tons—of pills. We collected over 90 pounds of prescription drugs in our effort this past October.”
The Terrell Police Department drop-off location will be in the Terrell Police Department Headquarters lobby at 1100 North State Highway 34 in Terrell.
The Forney Police Department drop-off location will be in the dispatch lobby at the police department located at 110 Justice Center Drive just off of Farm-to-Market (FM) 548.
“The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked,” according to the DEA which accepts only pills and patches not liquids, needles, or sharps.
“The Terrell Police Department has participated in this event since its inception seven years ago, and has turned over to the DEA more than 650 pounds of unused and unwanted medicines from the community,” the department stated.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” stated the release. “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,” stated the release. “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,” according to the release.
The DEA reports a majority of prescription drug abusers report, in surveys, they receive their drugs from friends and family.
To see other nearby take-back locations, visit the DEA’s drop-off location finder, here.
