The Prairie Village Police Department will participate in the DEA’s 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back on September 26th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. A take back site will be located in the circle drive at the Municipal Complex (7710 Mission Road) so local residents can return their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal. Needles and syringes cannot be accepted.

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back 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 diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including 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.

In the previous nine Take-Back events nationwide from 2010 - 2014, 4,823,251 pounds of drugs were collected.