MEDIA ADVISORY: April 23, 2012
DEP TO PARTICIPATE IN NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
~Nationwide event aims to collect unused, expired or unwanted drugs~
 DEP Operation Medicine Cabinet events in Fort Myers and Tallahassee last October netted more than 158,000 prescription pills.
COLLIER COUNTY– The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is partnering with Drug Free Collier and local law enforcement agencies to conduct a prescription drug drop-off day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28 throughout Collier County.
The event is being held in coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Take-Back Initiative, which aims to collect prescription drugs to curtail prescription drug abuse. In 2011, participants collected 188.5 tons of prescription drugs during the national event.
Proper
disposal of unwanted medications is important to public safety since wastewater
treatment systems are not designed to remove many types of medications.
Residents can contaminate groundwater supply and drinking water by flushing
drugs down the toilet or pouring medications down the sink.
Residents can check the DEA collection site locator to find places that are participating in the take-back event. Many law enforcement agencies have secured drop-off boxes available at all hours.
Those who drop off prescription drugs at the Naples Recycling Center will receive Florida State Parks passes.
The following locations will be available for prescription drug drop-off:
National Take-Back Initiative
Saturday, April 28
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Naples Recycling Center, 2640 West Enterprise Ave., Naples
CVS Pharmacy, 294 9th St. South, Naples
Sweetbay Supermarket, 7550 Mission Hills Dr., Naples
Sweetbay Supermarket, 2400 Immokalee Road, Naples
Walgreens, 13520 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
Wal-Mart Super Center, 5420 Juliet Boulevard, Naples
Walgreens, 4747 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples
Walgreens, 12780 Tamiami Trail E., Naples
YMCA, 1012 Sandhill St., Marco Island
Everglades City Hall, 102 Broadway Ave. E., Everglades City
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