Drug take-back set for Saturday

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state will be accepting unwanted, unused medications Saturday as part of the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back day.

Collection sites for Saturday’s event as well as permanent drop-off sites are listed at artakeback.org, which allows people to search for locations by ZIP code. So far, there are 137 sites accepting medications, and more could be added, said Steve Varady, program analyst for the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, part of the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

The sites will accept any kind of pill, including vitamins, supplements, over-thecounter drugs and prescription drugs, Varady said. It’s recommended that people either take the pills out of the bottles or scratch names off the labels before turning in the pills to maintain privacy.

All of the pills collected will be taken to a licensed facility and incinerated, Varady said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said 2,411 tons of drugs were collected in the nine previous take-back events.

Little Rock police, North Little Rock police and the Pulaski County sheriff’s office are all accepting medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Little Rock police will be accepting medications at all of the department’s substations, at 700 W. Markham St., 3917 W. 12th St., 6401 Baseline Road, and 10001 Kanis Road.

North Little Rock police will be accepting medications at Cornerstone Pharmacy, 2609 McCain Blvd.

The Pulaski County sheriff’s office will be taking medications at Remedy Drugs, 8511 W. Markham St.; Walgreens, 14820 Cantrell Road; and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way. The sheriff’s office also has a 24-hour prescription drug drop box at the station at 2900 South Woodrow St. in Little Rock.