Colorado residents can safely dispose of unused prescription drugs this Saturday, April 28, on National Prescription Take-Back Day.
More than 100 locations statewide will accept expired or left-over prescription and over-the-counter drugs. That includes Denver Police district stations and headquarters.
Denver Police Dept. spokesman Doug Schepman says the campaign aims to reduce the number of drugs left in homes. People who abuse opioids often first obtain them from the medicine cabinets of friends or relatives.
“A big part of this is reducing the likelihood of unused drugs being misused, or being accidentally take by children,” Schepman said. "Really the goal of the event is to insure that these medications are disposed of in an environmentally safe way."
Officials urge people not to throw away unused medications or flush them down the toilet because they are an environmental hazard.
The take-back sites cannot accept needles or sharps, mercury thermometers, oxygen containers, chemotherapy or radioactive substance, illicit drugs or pressurized containers.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, more than 450 tons of unwanted medications were dropped off nationally during the most recent take-back day last fall.
A full statewide list of take-back sites can be found here.
