Lake Charles Police to hold prescription drug takeback event

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The Lake Charles Police Department will be partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to take back unwanted prescription drugs on Saturday, April 27.

Officers will be on-site at the front entrance of the Walmart Neighborhood Market on 2011 Ryan St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to bring their unwanted prescription pills for disposal during this time. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous.

This take-back event will give the public its 26th opportunity in 15 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue as 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.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods are disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.