Drug Take-Back Day On Oct. 27 In Sandy Springs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Officers with the Sandy Springs Police Department will be available on Saturday to collect your unused and unwanted prescription medications as part of the nationwide Drug Take-Back Day initiative.

Officers will be in front of Kroger at City Walk at 227 Sandy Springs Place NE to collect your pills or patches on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you're on the northern side of the city, you can swing by SSPD's headquarters at 7840 Roswell Road Suite 301 to drop off these items.

The program, coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, is used to educate the public about the potential for abuse of these medications if they languish in a person's home.

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According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs, the DEA states on its website. A majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. These drug take back events are designed to prevent drug addiction and deaths from overdose.

The 15th National Drug Take-Back Day initiative, held April 28, drew 4,683 participating law enforcement agencies and opened 5,842 collection sites for residents to utilize. A little more than 949,000 pounds, or 474.5 tons, of drugs were collected during the April event.

Please note that you cannot bring liquids or needles to these Drug Take-Back events. The service is free and anonymous for participants.

For more information, visit the DEA Drug Take Back website.

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