Boone County and Jefferson City set to host drug take back events

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County and Jefferson City are set to hold drug take back events on Saturday which is National Drug Take Back Day.

This, comes just days after the city of Columbia held an emergency community meeting to discuss the increase in overdose deaths in the city. Columbia has already reported 22 overdoses in 2021.

In Boone County, the sheriff's office partnered with the youth community coalition and law enforcement agencies across the counties in order to host events at multiple locations on Saturday.

Boone County drug take back locations include:

• Ashland Police Department, 601 E Broadway, Ashland, Mo.

• Centralia Police Department Lobby, 114 S Rollins, Centralia, Mo.

• Hallsville Police Department, 202 Highway 124 East, Hallsville, Mo.

• Hickman High School (north entrance), 1104 N Providence Rd, Columbia, Mo.

• Rock Bridge High School, 4303 S Providence Rd, Columbia, Mo.

"This effort is undertaken to provide the community with appropriate disposal of their expired,
unused, or unwanted prescription medications," the Boone County Sheriff's Office said. "The benefits of the Take Back event include that these prescription medications do not fall into the hands of our youth where they may be abused or distributed inappropriately."

The Jefferson City Police Department, which has partnered with The Council For Drug Free Youth will also be taking back unwanted prescription drugs at 401 Monroe Street in Jefferson City.

"This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse," Jefferson City Police said. "Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses."

Needles will not be accepted at any of Saturday's drop off events, with only pills and patches eligible to return.