PRESS RELEASE — The Lake Charles Police Department is TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr. (on the south side of the parking, at Gill St).

On October 27, 2018 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Lake Charles City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 16th opportunity in nine years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Lake Charles Civic Center 900 Lakeshore Dr. (on the south side of the parking lot, at Gill St). The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.   The service is free and anonymous.

Last year, Americans turned in 475 tons of prescription drugs at more than 6,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, The DEA and its partners have taken in over 10 million pounds of pills.

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. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods are disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.