Indiana State Police to Participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Indiana – On Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 14^th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to your nearest Indiana State Police Post. (The DEA and the ISP cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last April, Americans turned in 450 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds — about 4,050 tons — of pills.

Rockwall News reported that dozens of police department across North Texas are participating in the initiative. Rockwall Police Department will host Drug Take Back Day in the city of Rockwall where Rockwall residents can safely dispose all of their unwanted medication.

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.

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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.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28^th Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website, or visit the ISP on the Map page to find your nearest Indiana State Police Post. All ISP Posts, except for the Toll Road Post will be accepting prescription drugs for disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.