TEXARKANA, Arkansas – On Saturday, April 27th, 2019 the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, Miller County Sheriff Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Miller County Prosecutor’s Office participated in the April Drug Take Back Day.
The Texarkana Arkansas Polices Department said over 80 pounds of prescription medication was collected from that event alone. In combination with the medications collected since the October 2018 Drug Take Back and with the new local drop off box locations, this brings their medication collection total to over 320 pounds in 6 months’ time. That is a phenomenal accomplishment when comparing this number to the previous amount of 342 pounds collected in the entire years’ time before the new local drop off box locations were available. They have collected twice the amount of medications in much less time.
Keep it up Texarkana!
Year-Round Prescription Drugs Disposal
Bring your medications for disposal to any of three drop off box locations; Bi-State Justice building (100 North State Line Avenue), Miller County Sheriff Office (2300 East Street), Texarkana Emergency Center (4646 Cowhorn Creek)
It is important to know that law enforcement is only interested in the removal of unused and/or outdated medications and over the counter drugs from the homes of our citizens. It matters not whose name is on the prescription, by whom it was prescribed, where it was prescribed, or where you reside. We stress that it makes no difference if you live in Texas or Arkansas. We take back all medications, no questions asked. You can remove the label if you desire but it’s not necessary. We ask that you do not deposit syringes or “needles”, premade injection medications, diabetic lancets, glucose meters, thermometers, empty containers, aerosols, hydrogen peroxide, and inhalers.
The preferred method of disposing of medication to either leave them in their original container or remove pills and capsules from their bottles and place them in a zip lock type bag.
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The Drug Enforcement Administration National Take Back Day initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. 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. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen 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.
“Excellence Innovation Integrity” The Texarkana Police Department is committed to providing quality law enforcement services and to making our community a safe place to live, work and raise a family.
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