Drug take-back on tap Saturday

The Jefferson City Police Department, the Council for Drug Free Youth and the Drug Enforcement Administration will host a drug take-back event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

JCPD and CDFY representatives will set up at Handley Way, the alley behind the Jefferson City Police Department at 401 Monroe St.

The representatives will have literature and other information available to those who use the drug disposal service. Saturday will be the 14th opportunity in seven years for the public to prevent pill abuse and theft by getting rid of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs, according to a JCPD news release.

The drug take-back event cannot accept liquids, needles or sharp objects of any kind.

The service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

"Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse," JCPD warned in the news release. The release also cites studies that show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from cabinets at home.

For more information about disposal of prescription drugs or about Saturday's event, visit the DEA's Diversion website, deadiversion.usdoj.gov.

For those who miss Saturday's event, there may be other local DEA-authorized collectors of medication.

Consumers may call the DEA Office of Diversion Control's Registration Call Center at 1-800-882-9539 to find an authorized collector in their community.

If a take-back event or disposal with an authorized collector are not options, the Food and Drug Administration describes other disposal methods at fda.gov/drugs/resourcesforyou/consumers/buyingusingmedicinesafely/ensuringsafeuseofmedicine/safedisposalofmedicines/ucm186187.htm.

Last April, Americans turned in 450 tons of prescription drugs at almost 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners, according to JCPD's news release. Additionally, the DEA and its partners have taken in more than 4,050 tons, or 8.1 million pounds, of pills in the previous 13 take-back events.