Special to IFN

The Statesville Police Department will participate in a DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day event on Saturday, October 26.

This event, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Walgreens located at 951 Davie Avenue, offers the public a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications.

For over a decade, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided an opportunity for Americans to rid their homes of potentially dangerous medications, preventing misuse that can lead to addiction.

The event offers free, anonymous disposal of tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs, with close to 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.

Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be tightly sealed in their original containers to prevent leakage.

The Statesville Police Department’s location will be accepting syringes and sharps; however, some other drop-off sites may not accept these items.

The April 2024 National Prescription Drug-Take Back Day, coordinated by the DEA, saw participation from over 4,600 law enforcement agencies and nearly 4,900 collection sites. A total of 670,136 pounds (335 tons) of prescription drugs were collected, contributing to an all-time total of over 18.5 million pounds (9,285 tons) of medications safely disposed of since the program’s inception.

Unused prescription drugs can often fall into the wrong hands, leading to dangerous and sometimes tragic outcomes. By participating in Take-Back Day, community members have a chance to safely and responsibly dispose of these medications.