News On 6 To Host Drug Drop Off For 'National Take Back Day'

In support of the DEA's National Take Back Day, News On 6 will help you properly dispose of your unwanted prescription drugs.

You can drop your unused or expired prescription drugs off at News On 6 on April 28, 2018, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. News On 6 is located at 303 N. Boston.

The Drug Enforcement Agency says if you don’t properly dispose of the unused or expired prescription drugs in your home, they might find a new one. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. 

Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision. The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America. 

The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends, and the home medicine cabinet. Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment. 

Take-back programs are the best way to dispose of old drugs. But if a program is not available: 
• Take the meds out of their bottles; 
• Mix them with something unappealing like used kitty litter or coffee grounds; 
• Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw that away. 

There will also be Take Back Day events at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

BancFirst Coweta

Bartlesville Police Department
615 S. Johnstone Avenue

Bartlesville Fire Department Station No. 3
100 S.E. Madison Blvd. (North of Sooner Park)

Bartlesville Fire Department Station No. 4
3501 S.E. Price Road (Behind Food Pyramid grocery store)
 

For more information on prescription drug abuse: 
• https://takebackday.dea.gov/ 
• http://thinksmartok.org 
• www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com 
• www.JustThinkTwice.com