JACKSON – In an effort to get unwanted prescription drugs off the streets and out of homes where they can be a potential danger to small children, teens or pets, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is urging residents to participate in their upcoming drug take back event.
Sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the event will be held Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at various locations across the nation.
For a list of drug drop off locations, log onto: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/
People can bring in unwanted solid prescription and over-the-counter medicines so they may be disposed of safely.
Liquid medications, such as cough syrup will not be accepted.
Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this program.
The event does not restrict drop offs to only residents of the sponsoring community; but anyone wanting to participate in the program will be allowed to do so.
Officials with the MDEQ said that unused drugs stored around the home may present a danger to people as well as to the environment when disposed of. Removing unused medications from the home can help prevent intentional misuse and unintentional poisonings of children and pets.
However, dumping the medication down the drain or flushing it down the toilet can become a source of water contamination.
Research is continuing into whether such water contamination adversely impacts human health or aquatic life.
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