The Fayette County Sheriff Office has partnered with the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and other government, community, public health and law enforcement partners to announce a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office located at 155 Johnson Avenue in Fayetteville, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Brent Rowan.
The service is free and anonymous; there are no questions asked or paperwork required. Participants in this initiative are simply asked to bring there unused or unwanted prescription drugs to this location where they can be destroyed.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office will have a “drive-though” type setup in the Sheriff’s Office Parking lot on Johnson Avenue nearest to South Jeff Davis Drive.
Participants can drive through and not get out of their car.
Rowan said this initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. 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, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards. You can make your home safe and strengthen your community by participating in this nationwide prescription take-back program, Rowan said.
