Scott County, IN – With opioid overdose deaths increasing during the pandemic, the Drug Enforcement Administration announces its 20th Take Back Day is scheduled for April 24th from 10 am to 2 pm at Scottsburg Walmart. At its last Take Back Day in October, CEASe and the Scott County Partnership, in cooperation with local law enforcement and Scottsburg Walmart, collected expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the public around the country turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs.
With studies indicating a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen an increase in overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 83,544 Americans overdosing during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2020, the most ever recorded in a 12-month period. The increase in drug overdose deaths appeared to begin prior to the COVID-19 health emergency, but accelerated significantly during the first months of the pandemic.
The public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at Scottsburg Walmart (between East door and Garden Center) on April 24 between 10 am and 2 pm in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.
The Scottsburg and Austin Police Departments and Scott County Sheriff’s Department will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.
Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one way CEASe and the DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539. Locally, citizens may call 812-820-0620 with any questions about the event. For more information about CEASe, go to sccease.org