Santa Rosa and Escambia County Health Departments are encouraging the residents of both counties to participate Saturday, October 24 in National Drug Take Back Day coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This national emphasis provides the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This October’s event is the DEA’s 19th nationwide event since its inception 10 years ago.
Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 883,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA, along with its law enforcement partners, has now collected nearly 6,350 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative in 2010.
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 United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Below is a list of disposal boxes available in our communities:
Locations and Times:
Walgreens (24/7)
6314 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
870 E. Cervantes St., Pensacola
2237 W. 9 Mile Rd., Pensacola
3909 Hwy. 90, Pace
6506 Caroline St., Milton
8220 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre
CVS (24/7)
6888 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola
6501 Caroline St/Hwy 90. Milton
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday
5755 East Milton Road, Milton
1322 College Parkway, Gulf Breeze
8597 High School Blvd., Navarre
4775 Pace Patriot Blvd., Pace
3695 Highway 4, Jay
To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. Items not accepted at the drug take back sites include liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills or patches can be accepted. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.
