Missouri law enforcement to host Drug Take Back Day events Saturday
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Several law enforcement agencies across Mid-Missouri are accepting unused and expired prescription drugs Saturday for the Drug Enforcement Administration's national Drug Take Back Day.
According to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, around 230,000 Missourians misused prescription drugs in the past year, leading to addiction and overdose death.
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics describes prescription drug abuse and misuse as a person taking medicine more or differently than prescribed and taking medicine that has expired or wasn't prescribed to the patient. It also found that about 13.8 million or 4.8% of Americans over the age of 12 abuse prescriptions in a year. That is around 4.4% less than in 2023, when 14.4 million people were reported to have misused prescriptions.
Drop-off locations will be open across Mid-Missouri from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday:
- Harry S. Truman VA Hospital - Columbia
- MU Student Center - Columbia
- Rock Bridge High School - Columbia
- Hickman High School - Columbia
- Kilgore's Pharmacy - Ashland
- Hallsville Police Department - Hallsville
- Fulton Fire Department Station 1 - Fulton
- Centralia Police Department - Centralia
- Boonville Police Department - Boonville
- Jefferson City Police Department evidence room - Jefferson City
- Sedalia Walmart - Sedalia
- Morgan County Sheriff's Office - Versailles
Drop-offs will not accept syringes or illicit drugs. Liquid medications, like cough syrup, can stay in the original containers.
In October 2024, a little under 4,500 law enforcement agencies participated in Drug Take Back Day across the nation. Around 314 tons of medications were collected.
Select locations are open for year-round drop-offs.
