Police Department plans drug take-back event

The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department will hold a drug take-back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the department, 9655 Grand Ronde Road.

This is the 15^th opportunity in the past seven years that local police departments working with the Drug Enforcement Administration have held drug take-back events to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

Only pills or patches will be accepted. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps.

Last fall, Americans turned in 456 tons of prescriptions drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners. In the previous 14 drug take-back events, DEA and its partners have accepted more than 9 million pounds of pills for disposal.

Americans are now advised that the usual method for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose safety, environmental and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.