Drug take-back day set Saturday

Several local communities will participate in the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. The biannual event will take place, officially, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 45 locations in Idaho.

Among those participating will be the Blackfoot Police Department. Its event will be held in the Walmart parking lot at 565 Jensen Grove Drive, in Blackfoot.

The disposal service is free and anonymous and no questions will be asked.

According to the police department, controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances may be collected and properly disposed of in a secure and anonymous manner. Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into a disposal box.

All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.

Intra-venous solutions, injectables, syringes, chemotherapy medications, or medical waste will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.

In eastern Idaho, collection points are set up at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Rigby, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at “Fat Cats”, the Rexburg Police Department at the Rexburg Walmart parking lot, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office in Driggs, the Jackson, Wyoming Police Department, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office in Dubois, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in Arco and the Preston Police Department.

Some larger departments, like those in Pocatello and Idaho Falls offer drug take-backs year-round.

According to the US District Attorney’s Office, Americans turned in 457 tons of prescription drugs at almost 6,000 sites last October.

“Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to get rid of a substantial part of the pain pill supply available for abuse,” said US Attorney for Idaho Bart Davis. “I urge everyone to do their part to fight drug abuse by going to a collection site and safely disposing of unused, expired, and dangerous prescription medication.”

You can find more information about the event here.