DEA’s ‘Take Back Day’ to collect old medicines nationwide

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host its bi-annual “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day” on Saturday, Oct. 26 where tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs will be collected.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 at the following collection sites:

• The University of Texas at El Paso with the UTEP Police
  • Health Sciences Bldg., 1101 N. Campbell St., El Paso
• West Texas Poison Center
  • 4815 Alberta Ave., El Paso
• Sunland Park Police Department
  • 1000 McNutt Rd. Suite C, Sunland Park
• DEA El Paso Division Office
  • 660 S Mesa Hills Dr., El Paso
• Franklin High School
  • 900 N Resler Dr., El Paso
• El Paso Police Department, Northwest Regional Command Center
  • 9600 Dyer St., El Paso
• Corpus Christi Catholic Church with the Poison Control Center
  • 9205 N. Loop Dr., El Paso
• Anthony Police Department at the City of Anthony Municipal Complex
  • 820 NM-478, Anthony, NM
• White Sands Missile Range at the Professional Development Center
  • 465 Dyer St., White Sands Missile Range, NM
• Sam’s Club with the Las Cruces Police Department
  • 2711 N. Telshor Blvd., Las Cruces, NM
• Walmart Neighborhood Market with the Las Cruces Police Department
  • 150 Sonoma Ranch Blvd., Las Cruces, NM
• Mesilla Marshal’s Department at the Mesilla Town Municipal Court
  • 2231 Avenida de Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM
• Walmart Super Center with the Las Cruces Police Department
  • 1550 S. Valley Dr., Las Cruces, NM
• DEA Las Cruces in the NM Elks Lodge #1119
  • 3000 Elks Dr., Las Cruces, NM
• Alamogordo Police Department
  • 700 Virginia Ave., Alamogordo, NM
• New Mexico State Police-Lordsburg at the Columbus Post Office
  • 201 S. Main St., Columbus, NM
• Hatch Police Department
  • 5 Chile Capital Ln., Hatch, NM
• Walgreens Pharmacy with the Deming Police Department
  • 122 N. Gold Ave., Deming, NM
• Truth or Consequences Police Department
  • 507 McAdoo St., Truth or Consequences, NM

Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps or illicit drugs, according to a news release sent by the DEA.

Liquid products such as cough syrups, should be kept in their original container and the lids must be tightly sealed to prevent leaking.

The event is to help residents get rid of unneeded medications that are old, unwanted or expired that “too often become a gateway to addiction,” according to the DEA.

According to the DEA, Take Back Day has collected over 8,000 tons of medication since the beginning of the program.

For more information or to find a collection site near you, visit the DEA’s website here .

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