If you have unused or expired prescription drugs taking up space in your home, Saturday is the perfect time for a purge.
It‘s the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which is all about creating an environment for safe disposal of medications.
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For those with pets or children in their home who could accidentally get into prescriptions, drug take back events are especially important.
“Each year, more than 500,000 children under the age of 5 experience a potential poisoning related to medications. More than 60,000 children are treated in emergency departments due to accidental unsupervised ingestions each year,” reported The Absentee Shawnee Tribal Health System.
And we know pets like to explore -- which can get them into trouble if medications are left out.
“Pets commonly ingest prescription medications from countertops, pill minders, mail-order packages, or other sources,” said Safdar A. Khan from the Animal Poison Control Center.
DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day helps to reduce the chance of you or someone you love joining the statistics of those affected by medication poisoning.
If you or someone you know has prescriptions to dispose of in Jacksonville, you can take your medications to HCA Florida Memorial Hospital on University Boulevard or UF Health North on Max Leggett Parkway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
HCA Florida Memorial Hospital’s “Crush the Crisis” event at 3627 University Blvd. S, is offering drive-thru drop-off and each driver will receive an appreciation gift.
Law enforcement officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Offices will be collecting:
- Tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana).
- Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication in leak-proof containers, vape cartridges without batteries and pet medication will also be accepted.
- Any medications will be accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.