FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT

Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Operation Commander/Public Information Officer

870.541.5351-OFFICE/870.329.5652-CELL

Email: lafayette.woods@jeffcoso.org

SHERIFF'S OFFICE RELEASE PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK COLLECTION RESULTS: Jefferson County, Arkansas – May 2, 2016 – On Saturday, April 30, 2016, in the national effort to safely collect and dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office along with Tri-County Drug Task Force collected 222 lbs.  The event was part of the Drug Enforcement Administrations' (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative. The response by citizens for this initiative came as a result of citizens across Jefferson County emptying medicine cabinets, kitchen drawers of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications and turning them over to authorities at collections sites here in Jefferson County.

During last year’s 10th Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back conducted on September 26, 2015, DEA’s state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners, working at more than 5,000 collection sites, collected 702,365 pounds (350 ton) of prescription medications that were ultimately removed from circulation.

Prescription medications are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs. "Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.  Initiatives like Prescription Drug Take-Back are what continue to ensure that the abuse of prescription medications is reduced. It also ensures that prescription medications don’t end up in the hands of our youth. However, the ultimate goal is to eliminate such abuse through the continued vigorous pursuit of individuals who violate the laws governing prescription medications.”

For a complete list of daily drop-off or collection sites, please visit www.artakeback.org