EUGENE, Ore. - On Saturday, September 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Lane Community College Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 10th opportunity in five years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Anyone can bring pills for disposal to either of two LCC locations:
- LCC Main Campus, 4000 E. 30th Ave., Eugene, Center for Meeting and Learning, Building 19, west side of campus
- LCC Downtown Center main entrance, 101 W. 10th Ave., Eugene
Both sites will have attended drop-off boxes. People can drive up and drop off. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. No one will read labels, count inventory, or attempt to identify participants in any way.
Prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs for people—and pets—will be accepted. The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.
Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons (over 617,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and its partners.
This program 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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information contact LCC Public Safety at (541) 463-5558.
For more information about Lane Community College:
Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer
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