Drug take-back day Oct. 29 in Marble Falls
Safely dispose of old or unused prescription drugs at the Marble Falls Police Department, 606 Avenue N, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, which is DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
“It is not a safe practice to flush (prescription) medications down the toilet to dispose of them,” said Marble Falls Police Chief Glenn Hanson. “(The take-back day) ensures that any type of prescriptive — not just ones that are commonly abused — are properly and safely destroyed.”
Dumping prescription drugs in trash cans, toilets, sinks, and other careless disposal methods can contaminate water supplies and harm the environment.
Tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs will be collected on Saturday. Liquids, syringes, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.
Started by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in 2011, the bi-yearly event has collected roughly 16 million pounds of drugs in past years.
“We have participated in this event for several years, and it has always been very successful,” Hanson said. “Often, we fill three or four boxes that are 18 inches by 18 inches by 36 inches. I believe the most we have ever filled is five boxes.”
As drug abuse continues to uproot lives across the country, events such as these are even more critical. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdoses have increased by 15 percent in the past year.
Visit the Take Back Day website for more information.