Prescription drug take back set for Saturday

Yuma County residents will have an opportunity to dispose of expired, unused or unwanted medications on Saturday due to several area law enforcement agencies once again taking part in the annual National Prescription Take-Back Day.

The event, organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is aimed at helping to keep potentially deadly medications out of the hands of children, teenagers, or anyone who may use them illegally.

Saturday’s take back is scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is the 18th event to be held by the DEA since 2010. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuma Police Department and the San Luis Police Department are all participating.

Medications for disposal can be dropped at YCSO Foothills Substation at 13190 E. South Frontage

Rd. the Walmart at 1613 N. Main Street in San Luis, the Yuma Police Station. 1500 S 1st Ave., Fry’s 500 W. 24th Street in Yuma and the Walmart at 2501 S. Avenue B.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Solid pharmaceuticals such as pills, capsules, patches, inhalers and pet medications are accepted at the drop-off locations. Syringes and liquids are not.

Last fall. more than 4,800 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies took in nearly 900,000 pounds of prescription medications at more than 5,800 collection sites across the country.

Overall, in its previous take back events over the years, the DEA and the participating partners have collected almost 11 million pounds - nearly 5,500 tons of pills.

According to the DEA, this initiative addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to being stolen, misused or abused. 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 have shown that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now being 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 Saturday’s event the YCSO main office and Foothills Substation both serve as year-round collection locations.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.