Drug Take-Back Day Saturday in Metro Denver

DENVER, CO — Metro Denver residents will be able to safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs at an event on Saturday. The program is confidential and no personal information will be collected during the event.

“Disposing of leftover painkillers or other addictive medicines in the house is one of the best ways to prevent a member of your family from becoming a victim of the opioid epidemic,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson in a statement. “More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance. The abuse of these prescription drugs has fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic, which has led to the largest rate of overdose deaths this country has ever seen.”

Residents will be able to go to a number of area police and sheriff’s offices on Oct. 28, between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Police will be on-hand to safely remove the drugs.

The drug take back initiative is part of a nationwide movement spearheaded by the DEA. The U.S. Attorney's Office says there are more than 5,000 sites across the U.S. that will be taking part in Saturday's collection.

Over the past seven years, the DEA has run 14 drug take back days. This year, in April, the DEA hosted its first drug take back day in 2017. During that month, the public handed over about 450 tons, or 900,000 pounds, of prescription drugs.

There were 5,500 drug drop-off sites operated by the DEA in April and another 4,200 run by state and community law enforcement.

Since the inception of the event, the DEA and other law enforcement agencies have taken in a staggering 8.1 million pounds of pills.

No needles or liquids will be accepted during the event.

Metro Denver Drug Take Back Day sites:

AURORA

AURORA POLICE DEPT.

SADDLE ROCK ER /THE MEDICAL CENTER OF AURORA

22500 E DRY CREEK RD

UNIVERSITY OF CO ANSCHUTZ MEDICAL CAMPUS

SOUTH SIDE OF BUILDING 500 13001 E. 17TH PLACE

AURORA POLICE DEPT.

PICKENS TECH CENTER

MAIN PARKING LOT 500 AIRPORT BLVD

ARAPAHOE CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE

SMOKY HILL LIBRARY

5430 S. BISCAY CIR.

BRIGHTON

THORNTON POLICE DEPT.

THORNTON FIRE STATION #5

14051 COLORADO BLVD

CASTLE ROCK

CASTLE ROCK POLICE DEPT.

100 PERRY ST.

CENTENNIAL

ARAPAHOE CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE

KAISER PERMANENTE

5555 E ARAPAHOE RD

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE POLICE DEPT.

2460 E QUINCY AVE

COLUMBINE VALLEY

COLUMBINE VALLEY POLICE DEPT.

COLUMBINE VALLEY PD#2

MIDDLEFIELD RD

DENVER

DENVER POLICE DEPT.

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 4 SUBSTATION

2100 SOUTH CLAY ST.

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 5 SUBSTATION

4685 PEORIA ST.

DENVER POLICE HEADQUARTERS

1331 CHEROKEE ST.

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 3 SUBSTATION

1625 S. UNIVERSITY

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 2 SUBSTATION

3921 HOLLY ST.

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 1 SUBSTATION

1311 W. 46TH AVE.

DENVER POLICE DEPT. DISTRICT 6 SUBSTATION

1566 WASHINGTON ST.

ENGLEWOOD

ARAPAHOE CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE

CENTENNIAL MEDICAL CENTER

14200 E. ARAPHOE RD.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE

GREENWOOD VILLAGE POLICE DEPT.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE POLICE DEPT.

6060 S. QUEBEC ST.

LAKEWOOD

LAKEWOOD POLICE DEPT.

UPPER PARKING LOT

445 SOUTH ALLISON PKWY

LITTLETON

JEFFERSON CO. SHERIFF

DAKOTA RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

WEST PARKING LOT 13399 WEST COAL MINE AVE.

DOUGLAS CO. SHERIFF'S OFFICE HIGHLANDS RANCH SUBSTATION

9250 ZOTOS DRIVE

LITTLETON POLICE DEPT.

LITTLETON CENTER

MAIN PARKING LOT 2255 W BERRY AVE

PARKER

PARKER POLICE DEPT.

PARKING LOT 18600 LINCOLN MEADOWS PKY

THORNTON

THORNTON POLICE DEPT.

CITY OF THORNTON INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE CTR.

12450 WASHINGTON ST

THORNTON POLICE DEPT.

9551 CIVIC CENTER DR.

WESTMINSTER

WESTMINSTER POLICE DEPT.

9110 YATES ST.

WHEAT RIDGE

WHEAT RIDGE POLICE DEPT.

LUTHERAN MEDICAL CENTER/SLC MAIN ENTRANCE DRIVEWAY

8300 W. 38TH AVE.

Photo from Shutterstock

By Chris Mosby (Patch Staff)