JUNEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
6255 ALAWAY AVENUE JUNEAU, ALASKA 99801
Business (907) 586-0600
Fax (907) 463-4808
Integrity, Courage, Service, Respect
INFORMATION RELEASE
Date: 2021-10-14
From: Lieutenant Krag Campbell
Case or Incident: #N/A
DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back
On October 23rd, 2021, from 1o a.m. to 2 p.m., the Juneau Police Department will be hosting a drop off location as part of the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back event. During that time, the public can drop off potentially dangerous prescription medications at the Juneau Police Department, for disposal.
Types of medications that can be collected are tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids (including intravenous solutions), syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. Vaping devices and cartridges may be accepted at drop off locations, provided lithium batteries are removed.
“We can all do our part to fight drug abuse on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day by safely disposing of our unused and unwanted prescription drugs,” said Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor. “My office is proud to join with the Juneau Police Department and other law enforcement agencies across the country in this important initiative to keep Alaska families safe, and I encourage Alaskans to throw away unneeded prescription medication at local Take Back events.”
At its last Take Back Day in April 2021, the Juneau Police Department collected approximately 100 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription medications; with an additional 300 pounds of medications coming from our daily prescription drug drop off box, located in the JPD lobby. Across the nation, the DEA collected close to 420 tons of unwanted prescription medications.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019. The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com, or by calling 800-882-9539.
All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.