Both local law enforcement agencies and the state’s citizens are being encouraged to participate in the upcoming drug take back events sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). This nationally-coordinated event takes place Saturday, September 29, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will include various sites across Mississippi. Unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines can be brought to any of the participating locations so the drugs may be disposed of safely.
Removing unused medications from the home can help prevent intentional misuse and unintentional poisonings of children and pets. Dumping medications down the drain or flushing it down a toilet can become a source of water contamination. Research is continuing into whether such water contamination adversely impacts human health or aquatic life.
The most recent national drug take back event sponsored by the DEA was held in April 2012, and a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications was collected at 5,659 sites across the country. More than 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of unused medications have been removed from
circulation from the last four take back events.
Law enforcement agencies interested in hosting collection sites in conjunction with this national event should call the Mississippi Office of the U.S. DEA. The points of contact are Angela Lee at 601-965-8266 and Louis Lejarza at 504-840-1100. Event locations will be posted on the U.S. Department of Justice website in the coming weeks at: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov.
