Sandy Springs Police To Host Drug Take-Back Day

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The Sandy Springs Police Department will team up with the Drug Enforcement Administration to provide a safe way for residents to dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications.

The police department will host a Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at its headquarters. The collection will provide the public with its 14th opportunity in the last seven years to prevent prescription drug abuse.

Please note that the DEA cannot accept liquids or any forms of needles; only pills or patches will be collected. The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

In April, Americans turned in 450 tons, or 900,000 pounds, of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites
operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in
its 13 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 8.1 million pounds of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, as medicines that languish in home
cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. 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. 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 — both pose potential safety and health hazards.

The Sandy Springs Police Department is located at 7840 Roswell Road Suite 301. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 28 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.

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