Prescription Drug Take-Back Day to Take Place on Saturday, April 30, 2016

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA – United States Attorney John P. Fishwick Jr. announced that the United States Attorney’s Office is proud to once again partner with local law enforcement, Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC), the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Western Virginia Water Authority to collect expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for safe destruction on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at ten area locations.  The public is invited to bring unused or unwanted medications to this free and anonymous event that is part of the nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” program that seeks to prevent prescription pill abuse, theft and environmental concerns. 

“Working with our law enforcement and community partners to properly collect and dispose of prescription drugs is tremendously important to all of us,” United States Attorney Fishwick said today. “I look forward to seeing our friends and neighbors this Saturday at the Berglund Center parking lot to help in this important cause.”

This is the valley’s 11^th such take-back event.  To date, over 17,000 pounds of prescription medications have been turned in by area citizens for proper disposal making the Roanoke-area one of the largest collection locations in the state.   This Saturday there will be ten collection locations in the valley:  Roanoke Civic (Berglund) Center parking lot, the Super Shoes parking lot on West Main in Salem, Kroger parking lots in Daleville, Vinton (Hardy Road), Tanglewood Mall, Bonsack, Colonial/Brambleton and Westlake as well as the Roanoke County Fire and Rescue Station #1 on Hershberger Road and the Market Street Pharmacy in Craig County. (www.dea.gov for other sites in the region)

This initiative addresses vital public safety and public health issues.  Medications that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. and in the valley are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that ninety-percent of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.  In fact, the majority of commonly abused drugs by teenagers are prescription medications. 

In addition, flushing medications down the drain can result in trace amounts of pharmaceuticals showing up in our nation’s waterways.  This initiative offers a safe and convenient disposal option for the valley residents.

This initiative is sponsored by RAYSAC, the Western Virginia Water Authority, Prevention Council of Roanoke County, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Roanoke County Police Department, Roanoke Police Department, Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department, Salem Police Department, Roanoke County Sheriff’s Department, Vinton Police Department, Roanoke Valley Academy of Medicine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of Virginia, the Virginia State Police and the VA National Guard.

By working together to provide a free, secure place to dispose of unwanted medications, the law enforcement agencies, RAYSAC and the Western Virginia Water Authority are helping prevent drug abuse, protecting our valley’s waterways and making our communities safer.