Prescription drug take-back events scheduled Saturday

FILE: Various prescription drugs are seen on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions in Willingboro, New Jersey.
FILE: Various prescription drugs are seen on the automated pharmacy assembly line at Medco Health Solutions in Willingboro, New Jersey.

Several Mid-Missouri law enforcement agencies are holding prescription drug take-back events Saturday.

The following list of locations to drop off unused or expired prescription drugs includes information posted by law enforcement agencies online. All events are scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.:

  • Jefferson City Police Department, 401 Monroe St.
  • Cole County Sheriff's Departmenta - at the Cole County Public Water Supply District No. 4, 7712 Route M, Taos.
  • Callaway County Sheriff's Office - at the Callaway Water District No. 2, 2610 North Westminster Ave., Fulton.
  • Holts Summit Police Department, 245 South Summit Drive, Holts Summit.
  • Fulton Police Department - at the Fulton Fire Department, 151 Tennyson Road, Fulton. The Fire Department also is hosting a household hazardous waste event; contact the Fulton Fire Department for more information.
  • California Police Department, 500 South Oak St., California
  • Boone County Sheriff's Department - at the Ashland Police Department, 109 East Broadway St., Ashland. More information on other drop-off locations in Columbia, Hallsville and Centralia can be found online at takebackday.dea.gov using the "Collection Site Locator" tool.
  • Linn Police Department, 1200 East Main St., Linn.
  • Osage Beach Police Department, 1000 City Parkway, Osage Beach.
  • Laurie Police Department, 147 South Main St., Laurie.

The take-back service is free and anonymous.

A few area law enforcement agencies noted specifically that illegal drugs, needles, sharps, liquids and inhalers will not be accepted.

The Tipton Police Department and sheriff's departments of Maries, Miller and Morgan counties said they always take prescription drug drop-offs at their offices.

The DEA's national take-back program partners with local law enforcement agencies and encourages people to properly dispose of old or unwanted prescription medication, in an effort to prevent drug addiction and deaths from overdose.

"Participating in this drug take-back event instead of leaving medications unsecured in your home or flushing them down the toilet will help prevent drug abuse and protect our drinking water and waterways," the Cole County Sheriff's Department posted on its Facebook page. "Every day, 2,500 youth age 12-17 abuse a pain reliever for the very first time and more teens abuse prescription drugs. And they find those prescription drugs in medicine cabinets of friends and family."

More information about the program can be found online at takebackday.dea.gov.