Bradenton police, DEA to accept unwanted pills, patches Saturday

The Bradenton Police Department is giving residents the opportunity to get rid of unwanted drugs on Saturday, no questions asked.

The police department’s Take Back Day is hosted in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration, which will accept expired, unused or unwanted pills and patches. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharp objects.

Those looking to take advantage of the event may visit Walgreens at 4210 State Road 64 E. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to dispose of their prescription drugs. The Bradenton Police Department at 100 10th St. W. hosts a similar program Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the lobby.

In April, national Take Back events resulted in the collection of 900,000 pounds of prescription drugs in nearly 5,500 DEA-operated sites. Ever since the DEA began the program seven years ago, it has reclaimed 8.1 million pounds of drugs.

According to Bradenton police, traditional methods of pill disposal, such as flushing them down the toilet or tossing them in the trash, are inadequate and could pose an environmental threat.

For more information about Saturday’s event, visit the DEA’s website or contact Bradenton Police Sgt. Phil Waller at (941) 932-9331.

This story was originally published October 26, 2017 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Bradenton police, DEA to accept unwanted pills, patches Saturday."