Yuma police and sheriff’s office taking part in drug take-back day
The Yuma Police Department and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office will be giving the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Both of the agencies are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) 14th annual National Prescription Take-Back Day today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Medications for disposal can be dropped off at either the YCSO Foothills Substation, which is located at 13190 E. South Frontage Road, or the Yuma Police Department, 1500 S. 1st Avenue.
This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps; only pills or patches.
Last April, more than 4,200 federal, state and local law enforcement partners took in more than 450 tons (over 900,000 pounds) of unused, expired or unwanted prescription drugs at approximately 4,200 collection sites across the United States.
In its 13 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have taken in over 8.1 million pounds — more than 4,050 tons — of unused prescription drugs.
This initiative was created to address 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.
Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
If you miss this event, the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Main Office and Foothills Substation serve as full-time drop-off locations. For more information regarding the YCSO Prescriprion Drug TakeBack Program, please visit http://yu ma county sheriff. org/ services-drug_ disposal. ht ml.