National Take-Back Day

On Sept. 25, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. at sites established throughout the country. The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical-controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

This one-day effort is intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical-controlled substance abuse.

The program is anonymous.

--Prescription and over-the-counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules accepted.

--Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted.

--Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative

This is a reminder so that you might let the readers in your area to know that there are over 100 sites in the state of Maine where people can turn in their unused and/or expired prescription drugs. They can go to www.dea.gov and locate a site near their home. There are several in Oxford County. The Sheriffs Office will be providing two different sites: at the Sheriff's Office in South Paris and at our Bethel Office.

Wayne Gallant

Sheriff, Oxford County