Roswell Drug Take Back Event Next Week

It's time to dump those old prescription drugs that have been sitting in your medicine cabinet for far too long. 

In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the  will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at department headquarters.

The Prescription Drug Take Back Program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse.

The rate of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. keeps increasing, 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 those from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

The first Drug Take Back program for unused, expired or unneeded prescription drugs was held in September of last year and was very successful. The RPD and DEA removed approximately 109 pounds of drugs out of Roswell residents’ homes with an approximate street value of $100,000. 

“The five containers of drugs were sealed, weighed, recorded and taken to downtown Atlanta to the DEA location to be destroyed by incineration,” explains Lt. James McGee, with RPD.

Next week's Drug Take Back program takes place Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at department headquarters, 39 Hill Street. The service is free and anonymous. For more information, please contact RPD at 770-640-4100.