FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
April 24, 2019
For Media Inquiries Only:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
Alabama Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Marshall Urges Alabamians to Participate in
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27
(MONTGOMERY)— Attorney General Steve Marshall urges Alabamians to participate
in the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, on Saturday, April 27, at various
locations throughout the state.
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This year’s event – the 17 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back–has
approximately 68 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. Throughout all of Alabama’s
previous DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back events, a total of about 71,855
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 long-time
prosecutor, I have too often 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. On Saturday,
April 27, 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drugs that are out-of-date or no longer needed to collection sites for their safe and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 National 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.DEATakeBack.com.
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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