Montrose, COLO.--On October 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office will take part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The goal of this event is to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Sheriff Rick Dunlap said, “We want to provide a safe, free, and anonymous program for individuals to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs to reduce prescription misuse and abuse. We also want people to get rid of unused and expired medications that could fall into the hands of children.” Bring your pills for disposal to the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at 1200 North Grand Avenue in Montrose. Prescription pills, patches and expired over-the-counter medication will be accepted. Liquids, needles or sharps (EpiPens), mercury (thermometers), oxygen containers, chemotherapy/radioactive substances, pressurized canisters, and illicit drugs will not be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In April 2017, Americans turned in 450 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 13 previous Take Back events, the DEA and its partners have altogether taken in over 8.1 million pounds—more than 4,000 tons—of pills.

Rates 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 October 28th Take Back Day event, call the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office at 970-252-4023.