Prescription Drug Collection Event to be Hosted by Murrieta Police

Murrieta police and the Drug Enforcement Agency will host a drug take-back event, where members of the community can drop off unneeded and expired medication anonymously with law enforcement officials, the Murrieta Police Department announced.

The event will take place on Saturday, Sep. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the front lobby of the Murrieta Police Department at 2 Town Square.

“The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked,” said Lt. Ron Driscoll.

Such events are also being conducted nationwide by the DEA for the tenth consecutive year. According to Driscoll, the DEA collected 309 tons of prescription drugs last year and more than 2,400 tons since the event’s inception.

“Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” he said. “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.”

• --City News Service, photo via Pixabay