According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday is an attempt by the Drug Enforcement Administration to address this public safety and public health issue by hosting two days a year where people can drop off their prescriptions anonymously for proper disposal.
This is a free event for the community to drop off any expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications with no questions asked.
The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.
After the medication is collected, the drugs are taken to an incinerator plant and then burned, local law enforcement officials said.
In April 2018 there were a total of 949,046 pounds collected at 5,842 sites nationwide with 4,683 total law enforcement participants.
Here are the local drop-off locations:
Hampton
The Hampton Police Division will have one drop-off location running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
They ask that you bring your prescriptions for disposal to the Emergency Room Entrance of the Sentara CarePlex Hospital, 3000 Coliseum Drive.
Last year the Hampton PD collected 264.4 pounds in prescription medications, officials said.
Newport News
The Newport News Police Department will have three drop-off locations running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Newport News Police Department
South Precinct
3303 Jefferson Ave. - Sentara at Port Warwick
(Emergency Room entrance)
1031 Loftis Blvd. - News Police Department
North Precinct
368 Deshazor Drive
(Lot between Police and Fire Departments)
Newport News has participated in the drug take-back day in previous years. In May of 2017 police collected 389 pounds, in October 2017 they collected 204 pounds and in April 2018 they collected 364 pounds, according to the NNPD.
