Drug take-back event is Saturday

The Drug Enforcement Administration is sponsoring its 24th national Prescription Drug Take Back initiative on Saturday.

The “Take Back” initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.

The Indiana State Police will partner with the DEA, and as in the past, unwanted medications may be dropped off at any Indiana State Police Post, except for Lowell and Toll Road Posts, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bartholomew County is served by the Versailles Post, 902 S. Adams St., Versailles.

For this take-back, collection sites will be set up nationwide for expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs which will be properly disposed of without threat to the environment. This program is for liquid and pill medication. Vaping pens without batteries and vaping cartridges will also be taken. Needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal. This service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. 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 show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.