Your chance to properly dispose of those unwanted prescription drugs is Saturday, October 27, 2018, from 10 am - 2 pm, at the Lake Charles Civic Center, located at 900 Lakeshore Drive. The Prescription Drug Take-Back day will be hosted by the Lake Charles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and take place on the south side of the Civic Center parking lot, at Gill Street.

This will reportedly be the 16th opportunity within the past nine years that the public has been given this anonymous service, and it's FREE! Turnover those "potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs", with NO QUESTIONS ASKED. Get rid of those pills the right way, and also prevent pill abuse.

Keep in mind, the DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.

Last year, Americans turned in 475 tons of prescription drugs at more than 6,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, The DEA and its partners have taken in over 10 million pounds of pills.

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

Anyone requiring more information about the disposal of prescription drugs should contact Lt. Craig Wright at 491.1320.

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