FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
April 26, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steven T. Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
Alabama Attorney General
AG MARSHALL URGES ALABAMIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY THIS SATURDAY
(MONTGOMERY)— Attorney General Steven T. Marshall urges Alabamians to
participate in the DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, this Saturday, April 29, at
various locations throughout the state.
This year’s event – the 13th DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back–has
approximately 82 collection sites scheduled to be available in Alabama this Saturday
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) to combat the abuse or misuse of potentially dangerous
medicines that have expired or are no longer needed for those whom these controlled
substances were prescribed. Law enforcement officers will be present at sites
throughout Alabama to receive unused prescription drugs for safe and proper disposal.
Since the first Take-Back event in Alabama, in September of 2010, the program
continues to increase in the amount of drugs collected. DEA Prescription Drug Take-
Back events last fall collected an estimated 3,545 pounds in Alabama of unwanted,
expired or unused drugs for proper disposal. Throughout all of Alabama’s previous
DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back events, a total of about 47,425 pounds of unwanted,
unused or expired drugs have been removed and disposed of safely.
“Prescription Drug Take-Back is a valuable public service that protects our
children, our homes and our environment,” said Attorney General Marshall. “As a
prosecutor for 16 years, too often I have witnessed the tragic results caused by the
availability of dangerous controlled substances. When prescription drugs are left in our
homes, children and teenagers may be poisoned or fall prey to drug abuse and
addiction. Your old medications can be a lure to criminals looking for drugs to use or
sell. This Saturday, please take the opportunity to remove these hazards by bringing
prescription drugs that are out-of-date or no longer needed to collection sites for their
safe and proper disposal.”
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2
Law enforcement agencies and interested community partners such as
pharmacies, schools and civic groups are working together to provide as many local
sites as possible throughout Alabama. Each site will be supervised by a law
enforcement officer due to the involvement of controlled substances.
Deliveries of drugs to DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events are
confidential, with no personal information collected and no questions asked.
Participants are encouraged to remove labels or black-out information beforehand.
Many teenagers and young people who abuse prescription drugs get them from
family and friends or from their home medicine cabinets. Prescription drugs pose
dangers to children and others who may take them by accident or who may use them
for abusive purposes. Expired drugs may have lost their effectiveness and therefore no
longer be a safe and adequate treatment for the conditions for which they were
prescribed. In addition to concerns of potential poisoning, abuse or overdose, it also is
important environmentally that medicines be disposed of in a proper manner rather
than simply being thrown into garbage, flushed away or poured down drains, as they
could contaminate water supplies and cause an environmental hazard.
People who wish to participate should inquire with their local law enforcement
agencies, or may check the DEA website for a nearby location. A listing of sites may be
found through a search at www.dea.gov. If you do not find your area listed on the
DEA website, please check with your local law enforcement officials to see if they may
be participating in a Take-Back event.
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