The Texarkana, Ark. Police Department, along with both the Miller County Sheriff's Office and Miller County Prosecutors Office as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency, will holding joint operations this coming weekend.
All four agencies will be conducting a "Drug Take Back Day" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at three separate locations.
During that three-hour span. residents will have the chance to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. They can do this by disposing these medications in drop boxes at any of the three locations during the three hour time span. These locations include the Bi-State Justice Center at 100 North State Line Avenue, the Miller County Sheriff's Office at 2300 East Street and the Texarkana Emergency Center at 4646 Cowhorn Creek Drive in Texarkana, Texas.
Twice a year for at least the last couple of years, law enforcement agencies throughout Arkansas have hosted the Drug Take Back Day event which is also known as Operation Medicine Cabinet, according to a new release from the Arkansas-side Police Department
Besides getting the public to dispose of unused or expired medications, the operation is also designed to educate as many people as possible about the dangers prescription medications can pose. It's also important to know that law enforcement is only interested in the removal of unused and/or outdated medications, as well as over-the-counter drugs, from citizens' homes.
"It matters not whose name is on the prescription, by whom it was prescribed, where it was prescribed or where the medication owner lives," the news release states. "We also stress that it makes no difference as to whether the medication owners live in Texas or Arkansas. We take all medications-no questions asked-and medication labels can be removed if desired, but it's not necessary."
However, law enforcement does ask that residents not deposit needles or any other "sharps" in the drop boxes.
Presently, about 66 percent of all illegally-obtained prescription drugs (which also include stimulants such as Adderall and depressants like Ativan) are taken from residential homes and not pharmacies or off the streets, the news release states.
Specifically, items which will be accepted for the Drug Take Back Day program, include prescriptions, liquid medications (in leak-proof containers), medication ointments and lotions, pills in any package (including in glass bottles, plastic containers and plastic bags), over-the-counter medications and pet medications.
Items not accepted for the program include blood testing equipment, any and all sharp instruments and needles, illegal drugs and narcotics (although police will accept these items if placed in a container). Also no thermometers, IV bags or personal care products, such as shampoo and lotions.
For more information call Arkansas-side Police Sgt.Kristi Bennett at 903-798-3187 or at 903-824-4199.