Drug Take-Back Day in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — JeffCo residents will be able to safely dispose of unwanted prescription drugs at an event on Saturday. The program is confidential and no personal information will be collected during the event.

“Disposing of leftover painkillers or other addictive medicines in the house is one of the best ways to prevent a member of your family from becoming a victim of the opioid epidemic,” said DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson in a statement. “More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance. The abuse of these prescription drugs has fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic, which has led to the largest rate of overdose deaths this country has ever seen.”
Residents will be able to go to a number of area police and sheriff’s offices in and near Colorado Springs Oct. 28, between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Police will be on-hand to safely remove the drugs.
The drug take back initiative is part of a nationwide movement spearheaded by the DEA. The U.S. Attorney's Office says there are more than 5,000 sites across the U.S. that will be taking part in Saturday's collection.
Over the past seven years, the DEA has run 14 drug take back days. This year, in April, the DEA hosted its first drug take back day in 2017. During that month, the public handed over about 450 tons, or 900,000 pounds, of prescription drugs.
There were 5,500 drug drop-off sites operated by the DEA in April and another 4,200 run by state and community law enforcement.
Since the inception of the event, the DEA and other law enforcement agencies have taken in a staggering 8.1 million pounds of pills.
No needles or liquids will be accepted during the event.

Colorado Springs Drug Take Back Day sites:

COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT.
POLICE OPERATIONS CENTER
705 S NEVADA AVE

COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT.
SECURITY FIRE STATION #1
400 SECURITY BLVD

COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT.
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL NORTH
4050 BRIARGATE PARKWAY

COLORADO SPRINGS POLICE DEPT.
ELPASO COUNTY HOUSEHOLD HAZ WATER FACILITY
3255 AKERS DRIVE

MONUMENT

MONUMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT
645 BEACON LITE RD.

Photo from Shutterstock

By Chris Mosby (Patch Staff)