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Drug Take Back Day scheduled for Oct. 26 in Gallatin County

Posted on: September 30, 2019 - 11:41am
Drug Take Back Day

On Saturday, October 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the parking lot of the Gallatin Valley Mall, the Missouri River Drug Task Force will be partnering with the Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County, Community-Coalition On Drug Awareness, Bozeman Elks Lodge #46, the Montana Elks Drug Awareness Program, Community Medical Services, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to offer the public its 18th opportunity in eight years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In April, Americans turned in 468.72 tons (937,443 pounds) of prescription drugs at 6,258 sites operated by the DEA and over 4,900 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 17 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in nearly 12 million pounds – more than 5,900 tons – of pills.

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. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE US:

  • NEEDLES & SHARPS,
  • THERMOMETERS (MERCURY),
  • OXYGEN CONTAINERS,
  • PRESSURIZED CANISTERS
  • CHEMOTHERAPY/RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 26 Take Back Day event, go to www.takebackday.dea.gov. 

Year-round “Prescription Drug Take Back" boxes, authorized by the Missouri River Drug Task Force, are in place at these locations: 

Belgrade Police Department*
91 E. Central Ave.
Belgrade, MT 59714

Bozeman Police Department*
30 N. Rouse Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59715

Highland Park Pharmacy
525 Highland Blvd.
Bozeman, MT 59715

Law & Justice Center
615 S. 16th Ave.
Bozeman, MT  59715

Manhattan Police Department*
207 S. 6th St.
Manhattan, MT 59741

Montana State University Police Department
7th Avenue and Kagy Boulevard
101 Huffman Building
Bozeman, MT 59717

Park County Sheriff
414 E. Callender St., Suite 2
Livingston, MT 59047

Town of West Yellowstone*
124 Yellowstone Ave.
West Yellowstone, MT 59759

*Prescription Drug Take-Back box funded by Elks National Beacon Grant and placed by Bozeman Elks Lodge #463.