10th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Sept. 26th
LAKELAND – The Lakeland Police Department is joining the Drug Enforcement Administration in the 10th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day where citizens who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs may bring them to the Lakeland Police Department (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue) on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
Those unable to attend the September 26th event can still properly get rid of unwanted medications by using the secure prescription drug drop box located in the Lakeland Police Department lobby. The City of Lakeland Water Department would like to remind citizens to not flush unwanted drugs down the toilet because flushing medications leads to water pollution.
Previous prescription medication collections held in Polk County have resulted in over 1,700 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals. All recovered medications were incinerated.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. According to the 2013 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 24.6 million Americans are illicit drug users. Each day, thousands of teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.