National Take Back to be held in St Augustine

Local St. Augustine reporters at Historic City News have learned that St Augustine Police Department will participate in the “National Take Back” on September 25, 2010, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

“National Take Back” will provide a safe way to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs.

Many Americans are unaware that medicines languishing in their home medicine cabinet are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse and they do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine. Often, people unknowingly flush pills down the toilet or throw them away — each of those methods presents a potential safety and health hazard.

National Take Back day is a nationwide event that is free of charge and participants can remain completely anonymous — no questions asked and no request to show identification.

The collection site for the event will be the St. Augustine Police Department located at 151 King Street Street. Officers with the police department and Drug Enforcement Agency will be collecting potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Any medication will be accepted whether in pill or liquid form, however, needles will not be accepted.

Individuals wanting to dispose of medication should arrive at the police department between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to place the medication in the disposal box. There will be a law enforcement officer at the collection site.

Pills do not need to be in there original container; however, if an original container is submitted it is suggested all personal information on the prescription label is removed. Any liquid medication should be in its original container.

Community Affairs Officer Barbara Stevens of the St. Augustine Police Department said that at the conclusion of the event all drugs collected will be turned over to the DEA for destruction.