HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Law enforcement officers at locations across the state will be collecting unused medications for safe disposal on Saturday.
The next National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, sponsored by the DEA, will be on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
Since the Drug Take-Back Day program began in 2010, more than 118 tons of unwanted medications have been collected and destroyed in Kansas alone.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates opioid overdoses kill nearly 130 Americans every day. According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, pharmaceutical opioids are a leading cause of drug poisoning deaths in Kansas.
Studies show 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 traditional methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose potential safety and health hazards and should be avoided.
There are several Hutch Post area departments that will be a part of the day.
The Hutchinson Police Department will hold their event at the Dillons Marketplace Pharmacy Side at 3200 Plaza East Drive.
The Sterling Police Department will hold their event at the department at 118 North Broadway in Sterling.
The Lindsborg Police Department will hold their event at the department at 102 South First Street in Lindsborg.
The McPherson Police Department and McPherson County Sheriff's Office will be hosting their event and accepting expired and unwanted Prescription Medications for disposal at the Law Enforcement Center parking lot located at 1177 West Woodside Street in McPherson.
The Harvey County Sheriff's Office will hold their event at 120 East 7th in Newton.
Needles, liquids or inhalers cannot be accepted at Drug Take Back Day events.
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