Published September 24 2014
The Bellevue Police Department, in cooperation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will hold its annual Prescription Drug Take-Back event on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
It's the ninth such opportunity in four years for the public to prevent pill abuse and theft and rid their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Over the last two years, Bellevue Police have collected more than 800 pounds of prescription drugs at Take Back events. This year, people may bring pills for disposal to the following locations:
- Bellevue City Hall, 2nd floor police lobby, 450 110th Avenue NE, Bellevue;
- Bellevue Police Crossroads substation, 1336 156th Avenue NE, Bellevue; or
- Bellevue Police Factoria Mall substation, 4051 Factoria Blvd SE, Bellevue.
The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.
