Boone County Sheriff’s Department Holds Prescription Drug Take Back Day
April 25, 2015 10AM to 2PM at the Boone County Sheriff’s Department
Area residents invited to dispose of their unwanted medications and drive down prescription drug abuse Saturday, April 25, between 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, the Boone County Sheriff’s Department will be prepared to collect expired and unused medications in the state’s tenth Take Back event, and the first Take Back event to be organized locally. Drop-off is completely anonymous and no questions will be asked. Medications may be returned in any container or removed from the original pill bottles for increased privacy. Unwanted prescription, over the counter, and vitamins or other nutritional supplements will be accepted.
Arkansas residents have benefitted tremendously from their participation in the nine previous Take Back events. According to a study published in April 2013 by the Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation, more than 40% of teens who have misused or abused a prescription drug obtained it from parents’ medicine cabinets. In the same study, 56% of teens described getting prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinet as “easy”. By ridding their medicine cabinets of unwanted medications, Arkansans have destroyed over 62 tons of pills, thereby removing the potential for diversion and contributing to a significant reduction in the rate of Arkansas youth prescription abuse over the past three years. Sheriff Mike Moore is encouraging area residents to continue their successful efforts to drive down prescription drug abuse in Arkansas by taking a few minutes to drive down their unneeded medications to a drop-off location for disposal.
This 2015 Take Back event is supported by Sheriff Moore and the Boone County Sheriff’s Department in collaboration with the Office of the Drug Director, the DEA Little Rock Field Office, the Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas Rotary Clubs, the Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, the Arkansas Department of Health, the Arkansas Department of Health and over 170 additional law enforcement and government agencies, community organizations, and public health providers who comprise the Arkansas Prescription Drug Coalition. Please visit www.artakeback.org for additional information.
Take Back Event Flyer