Pill Take Back Day: DeKalb Police Hosting Multiple Events on October 22

DECATUR, GA — On October 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the DeKalb Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 12th opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and/or unwanted prescription drugs.

The public can bring those pills for disposal to the following locations:

• 4451 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker

• 1960 W. Exchange Place, Tucker

• 2642 H.F. Shepard Drive, Decatur

• 2484 Bruce Street, Lithonia

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous.

Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills.

Police and the DEA said the initiative addresses vital public safety and public health issues. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are 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. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, or about the October 22nd Pill Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website.

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