MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - On Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. three area law enforcement agencies will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to give the public its 14th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Pills or patches can be brought to disposal sites in Tahlequah and Talihina. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The local agencies and disposal locations set up specifically for October 28th in the Eastern District of Oklahoma are:
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Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, 22114 S Bald Hill Rd, Tahlequah
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Northeastern State University Police, 612 N. Grand Avenue, Tahlequah
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Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, One Choctaw Way, Talihina
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-more than 4,050 tons-of pills.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN), also a partner in the effort to reduce prescription drug abuse by offering safe disposal options, offers locations throughout the state. OBN’s website, found at www.ok.gov/obndd can assist you in finding a location near you.
Brian J. Kuester, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma said, “This service, offered by the DEA, OBN and local agencies is a valuable component of the joint efforts by state, local, tribal and federal agencies to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs. I urge everyone who has unneeded prescription medications to dispose of them, and applaud the efforts of these agencies to give a safe no-questions asked location for disposal."
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.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website at www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
