Rock Springs Police Department is taking back your unwanted prescription drugs this Saturday, April 30th at Smith Food and Drug located at 2531 Foothill Blvd. and Albertson’s at 1323 Dewar Dr. in Rock Springs, Wyoming.
The Rock Springs Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its eleventh opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
Bring your unused medications to Smith’s Food and Drug, at 2531 Foothill Blvd., or Albertson’s, at 1323 Dewar Dr., On Saturday April 30th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for collection to be disposed of cleanly and safely.
A drop box is also provided around the clock in the Rock Springs Police department lobby. This service is free and anonymous to the general public, no questions asked.
Last year, Americans turned in 3.09 tons (over 617,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results at combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million pounds, more than 2,400 tons, of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 30th Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Office of Diversion Control website, or contact the Rock Springs Police Department at 307-352-1576.