Henrico Police holding three drug take-back events across county this Saturday

From Henrico Police:

The Henrico County Police Division along with the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration will participate in the nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Program. This will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at three locations in Henrico County.

• Henrico Training Center, 7701 E. Parham Road (access from Shrader Road)
• Varina Public Library, 1875 New Market Road
• Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Avenue

The program is free and anonymous. Unused or expired pills and patches will be accepted. Liquids, needles and sharp items will not be accepted. No questions will be asked.

Last October Americans turned in 456 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and over 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

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—pose potential safety and health hazards.