Drug Take Back set for Saturday, Oct. 2

MURPHY (October 6, 2022) Officers of the Murphy Police Department will be accepting unwanted drugs and medications during the fall edition of the Drug Take Back event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29.

The collection boxes will be stationed at the Murphy Police Department headquarters, 206 North Murphy Road. The service is free and anonymous, as no questions will be asked of participants.

"The twice-yearly Drug Take Back events are always welcomed by our residents, with more and more people participating every year," says Lt. Adana Barber of the Murphy Police Department. "It's a free and easy way to get rid of unneeded or unwanted drugs and medications. Taking these drugs and medications and disposing of them properly is much better for our community than tossing them in the trash or dumping them down the drain."

Keeping drugs and medications, whether prescription or over the counter, out of circulation and out of the water system are two reasons the Murphy Police Department participates in the Drug Take Back program. October's Drug Take Back event is set for the last Saturday of the month and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For added convenience, officials will accept the drugs and medications from participants who park in front of the Police Headquarters. "Residents can drive right up to our parking area, and we will walk up and take the drugs," said Barber. "They won't even have to get out of the car." Inclement weather may prevent the curbside service, however.

These events provide a way to prevent drugs from being improperly thrown in the trash or dumped into household drains. "People who flush prescription drugs down their toilets or empty them into sinks may be placing the larger community at risk. Drugs can contaminate the water we drink, posing dangers to everyone," said Barber.

Properly disposing of these drugs can prevent them from being abused, as statistics show that over 70 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers get them through friends or relatives right out of the medicine cabinet.

"We have had as much as 700 pounds of unused, unwanted, expired or unknown drugs at some of these events," she said. "We get both prescription and over-the-counter drugs and medications, and we take them all." However, new or used needles, new or used syringes, and full or empty pressurized inhalers will not be accepted.

For more information on the program, residents may call (972) 468-4210 or send an e-mail to Lt. Barber at [email protected].

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