Pills be gone; medication disposal day is April 27
Unused or expired medications can be a dangerous threat to children, teens and even adults. The Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is April 27 at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Highlands Ranch substation.
Article and photo by Elean Gersack
Medicine cabinets can be overflowing with pills. Between allergies, illnesses, injuries and surgeries, the bottles can accumulate quickly.
According to Deputy Chad Teller of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), there are an increasing number of over-the-counter or prescription drug substance abuse issues in teens and adults, so it is important to rid homes of unwanted or expired medications.
The DCSO and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will team up on Saturday, April 27 for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Representatives from both agencies will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DCSO Highlands Ranch substation, located at 9250 Zotos Drive (west of Highlands Ranch Parkway and Broadway) to collect unwanted items.
All medications will be accepted except for the following: needles, mercury thermometers, oxygen containers, chemotherapy and radioactive drugs, pressurized containers, and illicit drugs.
Flushing medication down the toilet is not environmentally sound, nor is throwing it away in the garbage where others can also find it.
“This is extremely important to safe guard our children and our water supplies for the future. Medications no longer being used and sitting around in cabinets could end up in the wrong hands and seriously injure a child or worse,” said DCSO Undersheriff Tony Spurlock.
In addition to the DEA take back day, residents can drop medications in collection bins near the pharmacy at King Soopers on Founders Parkway in Castle Rock throughout the year.
To learn more about the DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back program, visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/. To find additional locations for year-round disposal, visit http://www.dcsheriff.net and click on “Pharmaceutical Drop-off Locations” under “Quick Links.”
