A pharmaceutical drug take-back event is Saturday.
All unused or unwanted medicines may be dropped off from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Houston Walmart. All pharmaceuticals are accepted, including veterinary and over-the-counter drugs. No signatures are required and no questions will be asked.
Law officials say unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse. Pharmaceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or doctor’s supervision. The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in America. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends and the home medicine cabinet. You could be a drug dealer and not even know it.
Unused prescription drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Unused drugs that are flushed contaminate the water supply. Antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones have been found in the drinking water supplies of 41 million Americans. The drugs have also been discovered in deep underground aquifers of 24 states tested, including Missouri. Public and private waste water systems are not designed to take these pharmaceuticals out of the water before they are discharged into rivers, streams and lakes.
The Houston take-back event is sponsored by the Houston Police Department, Texas County Sheriff’s Department and Big Piney River Stream Team Watershed Association.
A drug drop box is also available every day in the lobby of the Texas County Jail.
WHAT: Drug take-back event
WHEN: 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
WHERE: Houston Walmart