Roswell Police To Host Drug Take-Back Day

ROSWELL, GA -- The Roswell Police Department will be collecting potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications as part of the national Take-Back Day initiative led by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The collection drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at the Roswell Recycling Center. Roswell police are teaming up with the DEA and Keep Roswell Beautiful for the event, which is free and anonymous.

One new feature in the October collection: Roswell police will also partner with WellStar North Fulton Hospital, and will be accepting sharpies and needles for collection. These items, along with the prescription pills, will be taken off-site for proper disposal (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, 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, numerous people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, both of which pose potential safety and health hazards.

The Roswell Recycling Center is at 11570 Maxwell Road in Alpharetta. For more information, please contact Officer Lisa Holland at the Roswell Police Department at 770-640-4422 or visit the DEA’s website at www.dea.gov.

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