News Flash

The Roswell Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch program will again be part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an initiative of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) offering citizens an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

The public can bring unwanted and unneeded prescription drugs to the Take Back Day event Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Roswell Police Department (128 W. Second St.), where the Neighborhood Watch office is located. The service is free and those bringing prescription drugs can remain anonymous, no questions asked. Please note, however, the DEA – which will dispose of the collected items – cannot accept liquids or needles; only pills or patches are accepted during this event.

The twice-a-year Take Back Day (the other day is in April) has become a well-used tool for citizens of Roswell and the surrounding area to turn in pills they no longer need or want. Since Roswell began participating in the event in 2011, local citizens have dropped off a total of 5,628 pounds of old and unused prescription drugs at the Roswell event. The drugs turned in at the Roswell event and other local events throughout the nation are retrieved by DEA officials for disposal by incineration.

This initiative addresses a public safety and public health issue. According to the DEA, medicines that languish in home cabinets are susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, officials say disposing of unused medicines by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash create potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, visit DEATakeBack.com. People can call Richard Lucero at Roswell Neighborhood Watch at (575) 624-6770 ext. 4131 or (575) 420-1369 for more information about the local event.