The city of Melissa's Police Department will participate in National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 28, 2023.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands, by having people clean out their medicine cabinets and turn in prescriptions both safely and anonymously, a record amount of prescription drugs have been removed from potential circulation.
The drug overdose crisis in the U.S. poses an immediate and significant risk to public health, safety and national security. The DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day underscores the DEA's dedication to the well-being of Americans by urging the public to eliminate unnecessary medications from their homes. This initiative aims to prevent medication misuse and the onset of opioid addiction.
"DEA is committed to making our communities safer and healthier, and we can do this by reducing overdoses and overdose deaths," a statement from DEA said. "While the community does its part to turn in unneeded medications and remove them from potential harm, we are doing our part to further reduce drug-related violence."
The last National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from April this year collected 663,725 lbs. or 332 tons of prescription drugs from over 4,955 collection sites.
Melissa residents can drop off their unused or expired medications at the City Hall lobby located at 3411 Barker Ave, Melissa, TX 75454. During this event, Melissa Police Department officers will be there to collect and safely dispose of them.
"By participating, you help prevent prescription drug abuse and protect our environment," the city of Melissa said in a statement. "It's a small action with a big impact on the safety and well-being of our community."
