The Federal Drug Enforcement Agency and local law enforcement will host a prescription drug drop-off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Notah Dineh parking lot, 345 West Main St. in Cortez.
The purpose of the drop-off is to prevent unused prescription medications from falling into the wrong hands.
The effort is part of the Drug Enforcement Administrations fourth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Participating police and sheriffs departments across Colorado will collect and safely dispose of unused, unwanted and expired household medications.
The take-back service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked. Authorized DEA take-back sites are coordinated with local law enforcement agencies so that prescription narcotics and other controlled substances will be accepted for disposal along with other prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The following items will not be accepted: needles and sharps, mercury (thermometers), oxygen containers, chemotherapy/ radioactive substances, pressurized canisters and illicit drugs.
More than 498 tons of medications were turned in at collection sites across the United States during the first three DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Days, including 18 tons collected in Colorado. These drugs have been removed from homes and no longer pose a danger of abuse. Seventy percent of children who abuse prescription drugs get them from family and friends. Home medicine cabinets often provide easy access to the drugs they abuse/use.
In 2010, there were 414 deaths from prescription drug abuse more than twice as many from crashes related to drunk driving.
Improperly disposal of drugs can also lead to contamination of water supplies.
Unused prescription drugs will be collected free of charge Saturday for proper disposal. Liquids, needles and inhalers will not be collected. It is recommended that names and personal information be blacked out on prescription bottles.