Tucson-Area Law Takes Back Prescription Drugs Saturday

TUCSON, AZ — Those unused prescription drugs piling up in your medicine cabinet are a powerful lure, especially the painkillers that contribute to America’s opioid crisis, which the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has called a public health emergency that claims about 130 lives a day. Saturday, April 27, is your chance to dispose of them safely in Tucson, before they end up in the wrong hands.

We get it. You’ve been meaning to get rid of those unused or expired prescriptions but aren’t sure how to do it. But kudos for not flushing them down the toilet, practices that can harm the environment.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration is working with law enforcement agencies across the country in the 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The following law enforcement agencies will be available Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

South Tucson Police Dept.
1601 S. 6th Ave.

San Xavier District Office
2018 San Xavier Road

Pascua Yaqui Tribal Police Department
7777 S. Camino Huivism Rd.

Tucson Police Department
Fry's Food And Drug
7050 E. 22nd St.

Pima County Sheriff's Department
Walmart
7635 N. La Cholla

Marana Police Department
Fry's Food And Drug Store
7870 N. Silverbell Rd.

Pima County Sheriff's Department
Kirk-Bear Canyon Library
8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd.

Oro Valley Police Department
Target
10555 N. Oracle

Sahuarita Police Department
315 W. Sahuarita Center Way

Pima County Sheriff's Department
Walgreens
13542 E. Colossal Cave Rd.

If you can’t make it there/to any of those locations, find a drug take back site here.

The service is free and anonymous. All pills will be accepted, but liquids, needles and sharps can’t be taken during this event. The Environmental Protection Agency offers guidance on disposing of sharps and other medical waste.The Food and Drug Administration offers tips on getting rid of liquid medicines that are expired or no longer needed.

Now in its ninth year, the collections have yielded more than 11 million pounds — that’s more than 5,400 tons — of prescription drugs. Arizona collected 11,325 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs during the October 2018 take-back day, contributing to the total haul of more than 457 tons nationwide.

DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon said helping people dispose of unwanted, unused or expired prescription medications is one of the ways the agency works to break the cycle of addiction and drug overdose deaths.

“Addiction causes a tremendous amount of pain and suffering, not just for those addicted to drugs, but also for their families and friends,” Dhillon said in a news release.

It’s not just opioids that pose dangers. Expired prescription drugs can be less effective or risky due to changes over time in chemical composition. Some expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Expired antibiotics may not treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the DEA said.

Prescription drug abuse often starts with a legal prescription, and the majority of drug abusers say they get their drugs from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet, the DEA said.