MEDIA ADVISORY-- HOPE Initiative Partners to Encourage Community Participation in DEA’s April 29, 2017 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event by Hosting Promotional Event on Tuesday in Civic Plaza

ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and UNM Health and Sciences Center are encouraging community participation in DEA’s 13^th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm as part of the prevention and education component of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative. To raise public awareness about Saturday’s nationwide event, the HOPE Initiative Partners and DEA are collaborating with the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC) in hosting a promotional Drug Take-Back event on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., during “Truckin’ Tuesday” in Civic Plaza. The promotional event will provide City and County employees and others who work in downtown Albuquerque with a safe, convenient and responsible way of disposing of unused, unwanted or expired medications. Representatives from these collaborators will be available to speak with the media at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, in Civic Plaza during the promotional event.

WHO:

Asst. Special Agent in Charge Sean R. Waite, DEA Albuquerque District Office

Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, District 3

Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Martinez

WHEN:

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 2017

1:00 P.M.

WHERE:

Albuquerque Civic Plaza

1 Civic Plaza NW

Albuquerque, NM 87012

OPEN PRESS

Members of the public who wish to participate in Saturday’s nationwide event can find a nearby Prescription Drug Take-Back collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and entering their zip code into the search window, or they can call 800-882-9539. Only pills and other solids, like patches, will be accepted at DEA Drug Take Back collection sites – the public should not bring liquids, needles or other sharp items to take back sites. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic that has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico. Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities. Working in partnership with Bernalillo County, DEA, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC) and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico. The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning. Learn more about the New Mexico HOPE Initiative at http://www.HopeInitiativeNM.org.