Sheriff’s Office setting up four local drug collection sites for DEA National Take Back Day Saturday

More than 120 pounds of unused medications were collected in Saline County during last year’s event. *Salina Post stock photo*

The DEA National Take Back Day is Saturday and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office plans to participate.

Lieutenant Sean Kochanowski said the Sheriff’s Office will have prescription drug collection boxes and deputies at the following locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Dillons, 1235 East Cloud Street
Walmart, 2900 South Ninth Street
Sam’s Club, 2919 Market Place
Salina Regional Health Center, 400 South Santa Fe Avenue

Keeping prescription drugs out of the wrong hands is the mission of the DEA National Take Back Day. Unused, unneeded prescription medications are collected and safely disposed of, preventing the drugs from getting into the wrong hands.

“According to the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet,” the DEA event’s website noted.

During a similar event in April, 4,969 law enforcement agencies across the country collected 468.72 tons of unused and unneeded prescription medications, the event website indicated.