INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration are teaming up for the 24th nationwide "Drug Take Back Day" on Saturday, April 22.
According to ISP, The Take Back initiative seeks to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft through proper disposal of prescription drugs.
Collection sites will be set up across Indiana and the U.S for safe disposal of expired unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Liquid and pill medication as well as vaping pens and cartridges without batteries will be accepted at collection sites.
ISP states that needles, new or used, will not be accepted for disposal.
The service is completely free and anonymous.
According to ISP, prescription drugs that stay in home cabinets are highly susceptible to be misused and studies show that abused prescriptions are often obtained from family and friends.
"It's that concept of availability," IU Toxicologist Blake Froberg said. "If you have medications that are around your house and available and not needed, the thing that can happen is a young child exploring their environment has more of a likelihood of getting into those medications."
Froberg says unused medications can also be misused by someone attempting to self-harm.
The Take Back Initiative can help decrease the rate of prescription drug abuse and accidental poisoning and overdoses by providing a safe option for disposal, ISP says.
"Anytime you have a potentially toxic substance lying around your house when it's no longer needed, its better to get that out of your house," Froberg said. "Most of the time its not going to result in an accident, but this is a way to totally eliminate an accident from a medication lying around your house. "
ISP also says its now advised that flushing or throwing drugs in the trash poses potential health and environmental hazards.
Unwanted medications can be dropped of at any ISP post, except for Lowell and Toll Road. The event is on Saturday, April 22 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Find a ISP post near you, here.
