Upcoming Gwinnett Initiative Aims To Combat Rise Of Drug Overdoses

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The Gwinnett County Police Department will participate in a nationwide effort to fight the increased amount of overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, police said in a Monday news release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration's National Drug Take-Back Initiative event will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 22. Police said people will be able to drop off "potentially dangerous" prescriptions at designated sites throughout the county with no questions asked about their medical history or how they obtained the medications.

"Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue that can lead to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse. In addition, many teenagers that abuse prescription drugs get them from family or friends’ home medicine cabinets," police said in the release.

Police said the initiative offers a safe way for people to properly dispose of drugs rather than risking possible water contamination if flushed down the toilet. Drugs that are thrown in the trash can cause a contamination hazard through soil absorption, police said.

Tablets, capsules, patches and other prescription drugs will be accepted. Liquids, syringes, sharps and other drugs will not be accepted.

Here are the following drop-off location sites:

• Gwinnett County Police Headquarters - 770 Hi-Hope Road in Lawrenceville
• Universal Church - 6081 Singleton Road in Norcross
• GCPD South Precinct - 2180 Stone Drive in Lilburn
• GCPD North Precinct - 2735 Mall of Georgia Blvd. in Buford
• GCPD East Precinct - 2273 Alcovy Road in Dacula
• GCPD Central Precinct - 3125 Satellite Blvd. in Duluth
• GCPD Bay Creek Precinct - 185 Ozora Road in Loganville