The Village of East Troy Police Department, 2015 Energy Dr., is holding its annual drug take back from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
In conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration and TEAM ETC. the department will collect unwanted, expired, unused and/or potentially dangerous prescription drugs to help prevent pill abuse and theft. Sharps, including needles, syringes and EpiPens will not be accepted.
The service is free and anonymous.
The Police Department, assisted by TEAM ETC. has participated in two drug take backs to date, collecting about 200 pounds of expired and unused drugs.
Last April, American turned in 371 tons of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In its six previous take back events, the DEA and partners took more than 2.8 million pounds of pills.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issues,” stated East Troy Police Officer Beverly Rhode in a press release. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.”
According to the release, rates of prescription drug abuse in the United State are alarmingly high. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends and the home medicine cabinet.
Americans are also now advised to not flush unwanted drugs down the toilet or to throw them in the trash because both methods pose potential safety hazards.
For more information, call (262) 642-6251.
