National Rx Take Back Day Event

GOOCHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS April 27, 2019 AT FIRE/RESCUE COMPANY 5 AND WEST CREEK EMERGENCY CENTER

Goochland, VA – On April 27, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 17th opportunity in 9 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to Co. 5 Fire/Rescue at 2710 Fairground Rd. Goochland, VA 23063 or West Creek Emergency Center at 12720 Tuckahoe Creek Parkway, Henrico VA 23238.  The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27th Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website or contact Goochland Sheriff’s Office at 804-556-5349.

This 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. 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.  Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills.