Sarasota Police Partner with DEA for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day | City of Sarasota
Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC
SPD
The Sarasota Police Department will partner with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
The event will allow the community to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. While the drop-box in the lobby of the Sarasota Police Department is available year-round, residents are encouraged to bring expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for part of the National Take-Back Day on October 26:
- Sarasota Police Department Headquarters; 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota, FL 34237
- The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center; 1750 17th Street, Bldg. J-1, Sarasota, FL 34234
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved, abused, or illegally sold. Proper disposal of unused drugs can save lives and protect the environment. Prescription drugs unused and flushed can contaminate water supplies.
Officers will only collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. The DEA National Take-Back Day is free and anonymous, with no questions.
During the last National Take-Back Day in April 2024, the DEA collected 335 tons (670,136 lbs.) of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications nationwide. Clearing out unused medicine is essential, with studies indicating many abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets. Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com or by calling 800-882-9539.