The Bartlesville Police Department will participate in the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28.
The event, sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, allows residents to safely and legally dispose of unwanted prescription drugs at specific collection sites located throughout the community.
Locations for the event are:
- Bartlesville Police Department
615 S. Johnstone Ave. - Bartlesville Fire Department Station No. 3
100 S.E. Madison Blvd.
(North of Sooner Park) - Bartlesville Fire Department Station No. 4
3501 S.E. Price Road
(Behind Food Pyramid grocery store)
Each site will be manned by at least one member of the Police Department, where citizens can dispose of unwanted or expired prescription medication in containers supplied by the DEA, said BPD Patrol Capt. Rocky Bevard.
“Once disposed of in the DEA containers, the Police Department will secure the containers until they are picked up by the DEA to be destroyed,” Bevard said.
The event is for pill and patch forms of medication only. No liquids, needles or sharps will be accepted.
The service is free and anonymous — no questions asked, Bevard said.
“We want everyone to feel comfortable in bringing their medications to the site for disposal. This is not a drug enforcement issue — it’s a community service,” he said.
Last year, BPD officers collected more than 190 pounds of prescription drugs during the event — making Bartlesville No. 2 in the state, with only Tulsa collecting more.
“The event we held last fall was an overwhelming success,” said Police Chief Tom Holland. “This is clearly an important initiative that provides a valuable service to citizens, both from a public safety and a public health perspective.”
DEA officials say medicines that languish 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,” the agency’s website states. “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.”
“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this event,” said Holland.
For more information, call 918-338-4050.