Turn in old medications this Saturday
If you have expired or unwanted medications lying around the house, you can safely dispose of them at the Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 30, at Randolph County Sheriff’s Office and the Roanoke Police Department. This is a “no questions asked” drop-off. Officers will accept prescription and over-the-counter medications from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. behind the county courthouse and at the Roanoke Justice Center at 30 West Point St. Only pills or patches can be dropped off; no liquids, needles or sharps.
This free and anonymous initiative is part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration national Drug Take Back. It prevents pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted drugs, addressing a vital public health and safety issue. Medications that languish in homes are susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse, including accidental poisoning and overdoses. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition to the dangers of unused drugs falling into the hands of children or being used illegally, medications pose a hazard to the environment. Flushing drugs down the toilet is not as safe and harmless as you might think as many of these drugs cause serious environmental harm. Sewage and wastewater treatment plants are not designed to filter out these drugs, and they are ultimately being discharged into the ground and surface water. Antibiotics being disposed of in this manner kill the beneficial bacteria that make your septic tank work.
Studies show flushing old drugs is dangerous to rivers, lakes and streams, and harms animals that live in aquatic habitats. The U.S. Geological Survey has shown 80 percent of U.S. streams contain compounds found in common medications. Sewage systems do not remove medicines from water released into lakes, rivers or oceans. Fish and other aquatic animals have shown adverse effects from medicines in the water.
Partners for this event are Randolph County Sheriffs Office, Roanoke Police Department and the Upper and Middle Tallapoosa River Clean Water Partnerships.
Play it safe and dispose of your unwanted medications responsibly on Saturday, April 30, at Roanoke PD and RCSO from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Drug Take Back event
