U.S. Attorney’s office urges public to participate in Drug Take-Back Drive

SHREVEPORT, LAFAYETTE, MONROE, ALEXANDRIA, LAKE CHARLES, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley urges the public to get out this weekend and throw out unused prescription drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and more than 4,200 national, tribal and community law enforcement partners nationwide promote National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with events all across the nation this weekend. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.  Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because they are highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, theft, misuse and abuse.  The DEA reports that almost twice as many Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  More Americans died in 2010 from overdoses of prescription medications (22,134, including 16,651 from narcotic painkillers) than from motor vehicle accidents, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Studies show that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

“Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high,” Finley stated.  “The DEA reported that last April that Americans turned in 2,411 tons of prescription drugs, and since the DEA’s first National Drug Take-Back event in September of 2010, consumers have disposed of more than 4.8 million pounds of unwanted medication.”

The DEA will have collection sites across the country on Saturday, September 26^th, for those who are interested in bringing their unused or expired prescription drugs for proper disposal.  Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be brought to the collection sites – liquids and needles or other sharp objects will not be accepted.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Prescription drugs can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at the following sites:

Shreveport

• Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, 8910 Jewella Avenue,

Bossier City

• Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Viking Drive Substation, 2510 Viking Drive,
• Louisiana State Police Troop G office, 5300 Industrial Drive, Extended,

Monroe

• Monroe Police Department, 700 Wood St.,
• Louisiana State Police Troop F office, 1240 Highway 594,

Alexandria

• Louisiana State Police Troop E office, 1710 Odom St.,

Broussard

• Broussard Police Department at Walgreen’s Parking Lot, 105 St. Nazaire,

Lake Charles

• Lake Charles Police Department at the Lake Charles Civic Center Parking Lot, 900 Lakeshore Drive,
• Louisiana State Police Troop D office, 805 Main St.,

The public can also find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database where they enter their zip code or they can call 800-882-9539.