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The original item was published from 10/14/2016 4:57:00 PM to 10/15/2018 12:00:01 AM.

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Summit County Sheriff's Office

Posted on: October 14, 2016

[ARCHIVED] Drug Take Back Week Oct. 17-22

The National Drug Take Back Day is on Saturday, Oct. 22. To provide local support to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s initiative the Summit County Sheriff’s Office will be emphasizing Drug Take Back Week from Oct. 17 through Oct. 22.

SUMMIT COUNTY, CO – The National Drug Take Back Day is on Saturday, Oct. 22. To provide local support to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)’s initiative the Summit County Sheriff’s Office will be emphasizing Drug Take Back Week from Oct. 17 through Oct. 22 and the lobby of the Summit County Justice Center will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and for this event there will be special staffed hours on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to allow for easy access to the prescription drug take back box. You can use the service free of charge and anonymously with no questions asked about you or your drop-off.

The prescription drug take back box allows the public to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment warns that flushing even small quantities of household medicines down the drain can disrupt or destroy the useful microorganisms in the sewage treatment system and/or may pass through the system intact and contaminate downstream water resources. Items that will not be accepted are liquids, inhalers, or medications from chemotherapy treatment. “Taking the step of cleaning out home medicine cabinets of old and expired medications is a tremendous aid to law enforcement efforts,” Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said. “Working in collaboration with the community on this very important topic will help increase public safety and the quality of life for everyone living in the high country.”

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.

The Summit County Justice Center is located at 501 North Park Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424.

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