By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The Las Cruces Police Department, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other area law enforcement agencies, is encouraging residents to rid their homes of any outdated or unused medications during Saturday's Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative to be held at six different locations around town.
The take-back event allows the public an opportunity to safely, and anonymously, dispose of outdated or unused prescription pills and medications. The service is free and no questions will be asked.
The take-back event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29. Collection sites in Las Cruces are in the parking lot of the DEA office at 2290 E. Griggs Ave., the Mesilla Valley Mall at 700 S. Telshor Blvd., the Walmart Supercenter at 1550 S. Valley Dr., Thomas Branigan Memorial Library at 200 E. Picacho Ave., Meerscheidt Recreation Center at 1600 E. Hadley Ave. and at the New Mexico State University Police Department at 725 College Dr.
The take-back initiative addresses vital public safety and public health issues. Unused and outdated medications are susceptible to misuse or abuses, and can result in accidental poisonings and overdoses.
Traditional methods of disposing unused medications - such as throwing them in the trash or flushing them down the toilet - can pose safety and health hazards.
Approximately 121 tons of prescription drugs were collected nationwide during the 2010 Prescription Drug Take-Back operation.