LOGAN – Authorities here are urging northern Utah residents to safely dispose of unneeded medications on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The biannual observance of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is slated for Saturday, Oct. 25. Local residents can turn-in their unneeded prescriptions at Spence’s Pharmacy from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 550East, 1400 North in Logan (Image courtesy of the DEA).
The prescription drug turn-in is being jointly sponsored by the Logan City Police Department, the Cache/Rich Drug Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The DEA Nation Rx Take Back event will take place at Spence’s Pharmacy in Logan.
Officials of those local and federal departments are encouraging residents to turn-in their unneeded prescription medications so those substances don’t get lost, stolen or misused.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a free, biannual event that allows the public to anonymously and safely dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired medications.
The event is held nationwide, typically in April and October, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies.
The DEA is a United States federal law enforcement agency responsible for enforcing the nation’s drug laws, specifically the Controlled Substances Act. It combats illicit drug trafficking and distribution both domestically and internationally, coordinating drug investigations and working with other federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The prescription take back program’s main goals are to prevent drug misuse, protect public safety, reduce drug overdose deaths and protect the environment.
Federal officials say that the majority of people who misuse prescription drugs get them from friends or family members, often taking them from home medicine cabinets. Providing a safe disposal method removes these drugs from homes and reduces the risk of abuse.
Properly disposing of medications prevents accidental poisonings in children, teens and pets.
By getting potentially dangerous and addictive medications — such as opioids — out of circulation, the DEA aims to help combat the national drug overdose epidemic.
The Rx Take Back Day program also provides a better alternative than flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, which can contaminate the water supply and harm wildlife.
The DEA National Rx Take Back event here is slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 25.
Spence’s Pharmacy is located at 550 East, 1400 North in Logan.