Officers with the Sarasota Police Department collected 164 pounds of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs while partnering with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) during the annual Take Back Day on Saturday, April 24, 2021.

The service was free and anonymous with no questions asked.  The April 24^th event was the DEA’s 20^th nationwide event since its inception.  The 164 pounds of unwanted prescription pills will be collected and properly disposed of by members of the DEA.  Over the 10 years of Take-Back Day, the DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs.  With studies indicating many abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that are in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.  Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold.  Prescription drugs that are unused and flushed can contaminate water supplies.  Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during a 12-month time period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in 12 months.  The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin before the COVID-19 health emergency but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.

For those citizens who were unable to stop by the event, the Sarasota Police Department has a permanent drop box in the lobby of Sarasota Police Department headquarters, 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota.  Citizens can use it any day while the lobby is open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

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