CRESTVIEW — Crestview Police Department officers will host a Drug Take Back Initiative 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26 at the Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Drive.
Northwest Florida residents and area visitors can turn in their unused or expired medication during those four hours. Only pills and other solids, like patches, can be brought to the collection sites–liquids and needles or other sharps will not be accepted.
Other drop off sites scheduled the same date and time are:
•Satellite Pharmacy, 1758 Memorial Way, Eglin Air Force Base, adjacent to the base's Class Six/BX.
•1st Special Ops Security Forces Squad will accept medications at the Commissary, 114 Howie Walters Road, Hurlburt Field.
These take back events help prevent pill abuse and theft by letting people rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs. Since the Drug Enforcement Administration's first event in September 2010, the public has surrendered more than 3.4 million pounds of pills.
Unused medications in homes are highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, theft, misuse, and abuse.
Surveys of users have found that the majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
To find other nearby collection sites, visit the DEA website, click the “Got Drugs?” icon, and enter your location; or call 800-882-9539.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Drug take back set Saturday at Crestview Community Center, bases