Drug Take-Back Day In Denver At 7 Police Locations

DENVER, CO – The Denver Police Department is asking residents to empty out their medicine cabinets of unused prescription drugs and safely dispose of them Saturday as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. across Denver.

Friends and family members of of drug abusers contribute significantly to the nation's opioid epidemic, a study shows. A 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows 11.5 million Americans have reported misusing and abusing pain relievers.

Where are they getting the drugs?

"The majority of misused prescription pain relievers were provided by or bought from a friend or relative, or were taken from a friend or relative without asking," Denver Police said in a press release.

During the most recent drug take-back event in April of 2018, law enforcement agencies nationwidecollected 949,046 pounds of unwanted medicines (the weight equivalent of almost 150 Denver Police patrol SUVs).

"The goal of this event is to ensure the environmentally-safe disposal of prescription medicines and to reduce the likelihood of drug misuse or abuse," Denver police said.

Denver Police drop off locations:

District 1 1311 West 46th Avenue

District 2 3921 Holly Street

District 3 1625 South University Boulevard

District 4 2100 South Clay Street

District 5 4685 Peoria Street

District 6 1566 Washington Street

Police Administration Building 1331 Cherokee Street

Here's what police can't accept: Needles or sharps, mercury thermometers, oxygen containers, chemotherapy or radioactive substances, illicit drugs, or pressurized canisters.

For additional information on the program or other drop off locations, please visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html

Image via Shutterstock

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