Empty your medicine cabinet on Drug Take-Back Day
Authorities collecting outdated prescription drugs
Safely dispose of your unwanted prescription medication at a Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day site Saturday.
The Drug Enforcement Agency and partners will be collecting unwanted medications at locations around Southern Arizona from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free and open to individuals as well as longterm care facilities, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva.
"We can all help end the prescription drug abuse epidemic by making sure unneeded medicine isn’t lying around or doesn’t fall into the wrong hands," Grijalva said.
Last September there were 121 tons of prescription drugs turned in at 4,100 sites nationwide, the DEA said.
The Tucson Police Department along with University of Arizona Police Department and Marana Police Department will host drop-off locations in the Tucson area.
The DEA writing the regulations for a new law that allows not only "ultimate users" of prescription drugs to dispose of their medication, but also longterm care facilities to dispose of their residents’ medicine. According to state laws, an ultimate user is any individual who legally obtained prescription drugs for their own use.
The new provisions were put into effect just four days after last year’s medication collection event when Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010.
"That law has not gone into effect yet," said Girjalva's spokesman, Adam Sarvano. "He definitely does want to see a better plan in place," Sarvano said about Grijalva’s desire to control the prescription drug problem.
"More Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," said a press release. A 2010 analysis of the drug trade by the Justice Department cited prescription drugs as more of threat than heroin in Southern Arizona.
According to the DEA, over 5,100 drug collection sites will participate in the April 30 event.
Drop off locations
Tucson locations
- UA Police Department
- Conference Room #101
- 1852 E. First St.
- Tucson Police Department
- Operations Division (Downtown)
- 270 S. Stone Ave.
- South Tucson Police Department
- Lobby entrance
- 1601 S. Sixth Ave.
- Marana Police Department
- Target
- 3901 W. Ina Rd.
- Tucson Police Department
- Operations Division (East)
- 9670 E. Golf Links
Nogales locations
- Nogales Police Department
- 777 N. Grand Ave.
- Santa Cruz County Metro Task Force
- Rio Rico Pharmacy
- 1103 Circulo Mercado
