U.S. Attorney Supports Taking Back Unused Prescription Drugs on April 28th

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Robert M. Duncan, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, announces his support and encouragement for the DEA and law enforcement agencies, in their National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Saturday, April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The DEA and local agencies will be providing the public its 15th opportunity in the past 7 years to take an easy step to help prevent pill abuse and theft, by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. 

Bring your pills for disposal to the following sites:

          Lexington - Kentucky American Water, 2300 Richmond Rd.

          Cynthiana – Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, 113 W. Pike St.

          Danville – City Hall, 445 W. Main St.

          Frankfort – Franklin County Health Department, 851 East-West Connector            

          Harrodsburg – Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, 207 W. Lexington St.

          Midway – Midway City Hall, 101 E. Main St.

          Nicholasville – Walmart, 1024 N. Main St.

          Paris – Walmart, 305 Letton Dr.

          Richmond – Kentucky State Police Post 7, 699 Eastern Bypass

          Winchester – Winchester Police Department, 16 S. Maple St.

          Versailles – Kroger, 212 Kroger Way

The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last fall Americans turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9 million pounds—more than 4,500 tons—of pills.

“Four out five heroin addicts begin their downward spiral by abusing prescription opiates.  More often than not, the family medicine cabinet becomes the most readily available source for these drugs.  Twice each year the men and women of DEA, joined by our state and local partners in law enforcement, provide an opportunity for the public to safely dispose of their unwanted or unused prescription medication.   Please join in our fight, by participating in the Drug Take Back Day on April 28th, and help make a difference in your community,” stated D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Field Division of the DEA.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

“I strongly support the efforts of DEA and our other law enforcement partners in reducing unlawful access to prescription drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan.  “The DEA and the other agencies involved in Take Back Day provide a vital resource in fighting the opioid problem in the Commonwealth.  Far too often, the path to addiction starts with experimentation with legitimately prescribed prescription opioids found in the home.  By participating in Take Back Day and disposing of unwanted pills, you can help stop a loved one from getting started misusing or abusing prescription drugs.”      

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com