DENVER – Dozens of Colorado law enforcement agencies will take part in the annual DEA National Take Back Initiative on Saturday, where people can take expired and unwanted prescription medications and turn them over without question.
Most of the police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state will be participating, and some agencies will have multiple locations where people can drop off their meds.
You can head to this website and enter your state, city, or zip code to find locations closest to you, or call 800-882-9539. The take-back will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
“Given that many start their cycle of addiction through the abuse of prescription drugs, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative is a safe, convenient, and effective means of preventing old and unused medicine from abuse”, stated Special Agent in Charge Barbara Roach of the DEA’s Denver Field Division. “The NTBI, now in its 7th year, has collected tens of tons of drugs from the medicine cabinets of those around the country, preventing those would use them for un-prescribed use or distribution to others.”
People are not allowed to bring needles, mercury-filled thermometers, oxygen tanks, radioactive substances, pressurized cans or illicit drugs, but most any other prescription is allowed.
The yearly initiative comes as opioid abuse reaches “alarming” rates, according to the DEA. The take-back is aimed at getting medications off the streets that might otherwise be sold on the black market.
The last drug take-back netted over 900,000 pounds of prescription drugs.
