[Apr 29]
Fort Bragg Police Department, the Coalition for Gang Awareness and Prevention (CGAP), Waste Management and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is giving the public its thirteenth opportunity in seven years to prevent abuse and theft of medications, by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription and over the counter drugs. Bring your medications for disposal to the Fort Bragg Police Department at 250 Cypress Street in Fort Bragg. The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.
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. 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.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health concern. 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.
Prescription and over the counter medications will be accepted during the event. Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual should remove any identifying information from the prescription label. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in the original container.
Although it is not normal protocol for collection locations to accept sharps during the Take Back event, due to the overwhelming need for this service in our community, the Fort Bragg Police Department will be accepting sharps/syringes at their location only. We would ask the public to keep the caps on the syringes for the safety of all.
We will also have canvas medication lock bags available at no charge for anyone who needs one.
As a reminder, the Police Department always has available it’s “Red Box” collection receptacle in front of the station at 250 Cypress Street, where citizens can drop off used/expired medication 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This receptacle does not accept sharps.
So please join the effort to remove potentially dangerous substances from our community. Clean out your medicine cabinets and come by the Police Department on Saturday, April 29th between the hours of 10:00a.m. and 2:00p.m.
DEA National Take Back Initiative Event
Saturday, April 29, 2017
10:00a.m. ~ 2:00p.m
Fort Bragg Police Department
250 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg
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