‘Take Back Day’ slated for April 29

Morehead State University’s Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host a “Take Back Day,” Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event gives the public its 13th opportunity in seven years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Participants can bring their pills for disposal to the drop box in the lobby outside the MSUPD at 100 Laughlin Health Building any time before 2 p.m.  Drugs disposed of at the event may be in or out of a container, but needles are not permitted. All items will be collected and destroyed by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Please remove label or black out names on any prescription bottles.

The police department is open 24 hours a day year-round. The program is open to the public and all drop-offs are confidential.

Last October, Americans turned in 366 tons (more than 730,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 12 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 7.1 million pounds—more than 3,500 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 29 “Take Back Day” event, go to the DEA Diversion website.

Additional information is available by calling the MSU Police Department at 606-783-2035 or by visitng the police department's Facebook page. 
Pictured above. left to right, are MSUPD Officer Johnny Botts and Police Chief Merrell Harrison.