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 discard unused prescription drugs this weekend at neighborhood collection sites during Drug Take-Back Day.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and more than 4,200 national, tribal and community law enforcement partners nationwide will be promoting National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day with events across the nation this weekend. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. It also educates the 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. More than 46,000 Americans die each year from drug-related deaths, and more than half of those are from prescription opioids and heroin.

The majority of prescription drug abusers report in surveys that they get their drugs from friends and family.  Cleaning out old prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers, and bedside tables can reduce accidents, thefts, and the misuse and abuse of these medicines, including the opioid painkillers.  Eight out of 10 new heroin users began by abusing prescription painkillers and moved to heroin when they could no longer obtain or afford those painkillers.

The DEA will have collection sites across the country on Saturday, October 22^nd, 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, October 22^nd at the following sites:

Shreveport

• Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff’s Safety Town in the Parking Lot of Summer Grove Baptist Church, 8910 Jewella Ave.

Bossier City

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

Barksdale Air Force Base

• Barksdale Air Force Base Exchange, 455 Curtis Road

Monroe

• Louisiana State Police Troop F office, 1240 Highway 594
• University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department, 3811 Desiard St.

West Monroe

• Brookshire Food Store, 3426 Cypress St.

Alexandria

• Louisiana State Police Troop E office, 1710 Odom St.
• Alexandria Police Department, 1000 Bolton Ave.

Lafayette

• Louisiana State Police Troop I office, 121 E. Pont Des Mouton Road

Broussard

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

Lake Charles

• Lake Charles Police Department, 830 Enterprise Blvd.
• Louisiana State Police Troop D office, 805 Main St.

The public can also find other nearby collection sites 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 call 800-882-9539.