JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced on Tuesday an effort to cut down on prescription drug abuse. As part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, JSO, the Mayo Clinic and UF Health North will become drop off locations on Saturday, April 30.
This is the 22nd time Florida is participating, the last “Drug Takeback Day’ was back in October.
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According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, more than half of people between just 12 and 17 years old who reported abusing drugs said they got prescription drugs from family or friends.
Anyone can turn in prescription drugs or controlled substances for proper disposal. If you can’t make it to these locations on Saturday, unused prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications can be dropped off at the Police Memorial Building, Forsyth Street entrance, from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven day a week.
Items that will not be accepted include illegal (schedule I) drugs, needles/syringes/sharps containers, medical devices/batteries, aerosol cans/inhalers, chemicals, mercury-containing devices, radioactive drugs, and liquid chemotherapy drugs.
Nassau County
Nassau County announced its plans to take old and unused medications at the Hilliard Pharmacy, Winn Dixie in Callahan and the Yulee Community Center Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Clay County
HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital in cooperation with Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay Action Coalition will be hosting a prescription drug take back day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will provide a quick, safe and easy way for people to dispose of expired and unwanted medication.
The drop-off process is a quick, easy and drive-by style located outside of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital’s emergency room located at 2001 Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park. Participants are greeted by a team that is specially trained to handle prescription drugs.
Flagler County
Flagler County residents can discard unused or expired medications during the 2022 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event scheduled for 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday at four locations across the county. Flagler County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) Deputies will staff the locations as part of event organized by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
National Drug Take Back sites will be at the following locations:
- FCSO Palm Coast District Office located at 14 Palm Harbor Village Way, Palm Coast, FL 32137
- Publix located at 4950 Belle Terre Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32137
- Publix located at 800 Belle Terre Pkwy, Palm Coast, FL 32164
- Publix located at 250 Palm Coast Pkwy NE #1000, Palm Coast, FL 32137
If you cannot attend National Drug Take Back Day location, you can still dispose of unused medications properly. If you have medication that you would like to turn in, please visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/ to find a year-round drop-off location near you.
Glynn County
The Glynn County Police Department will offer two locations Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the DEA National Drug Take-Back Initiative.
The locations are:
Lucious Daniel Training Center
4145 Norwich Street Extension
Brunswick GA 31520
St. Simons Island GCPD Substation
1965 Demere Road
St. Simons Island GA 31522
People who drop off will not be asked questions about their medical history or how they came into possession of the medications. Our collection sites can accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs for proper disposal.
Liquids, syringes, sharps, and other drugs will not be accepted.
The DEA website says: The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety, and national security threat. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.