Take Back Day April 27 Seeks to Prevent Misuse of Prescription Drugs

Misused prescription drugs contribute to addiction and even death, so the Lake Wales Police Department will join others as a drop-off location for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 27.

According to StandUP Polk, the organization sponsoring the event along with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, people can get rid of any unwanted human or pet medication, including pills, liquids and syringes. Just drive up, hand the officer your medication and drive off. No questions asked.

The DEA's Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

According to the DEA, 4,770 law enforcement agencies staffed 5,839 sites and collected a total of 914,236 pounds of

The hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Wales Police Department, 133 E. Tillman Ave. Other Polk safe disposal locations include police departments in Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Haines City, Lakeland, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton and Winter Haven.

StandUP Polk's mission is to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness and advocacy to include strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. They can be reached by calling 863-802-0777. More information and additional resources can be found on their website at https://www.standuppolk.org/.