Beaumont PD and DEA to Take Drugs off Streets

Beaumont Police will be helping take unwanted pills off the streets this weekend.

The BPD and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will be accepting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs and part of a collection day on September 29th at Beaumont Civic Center.  The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked.

Medicines that stay 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.

Last year, Americans turned in over 376,593 pounds (188 tons) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners. 

The pill drop-off on Saturday will run from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Officials say similar events locally will be held every few months.