A number of local law enforcement agencies are participating in the National Take-Back Day in an effort to remove unwanted, unused and potentially dangerous controlled substances and over-the-counter medications from medicine cabinets. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office’s event is set for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The location of the Take-Back event will be in the parking lot of Orscheln Farm and Home, located at 1025 U.S. Highway 62 East in Mountain Home.Deputies will be on hand to assist members of the public in disposing of their unwanted medications.
The Izard County Sheriff’s Office will be joining the Take-Back event. Hours for the Izard County event are from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. Residents are directed to bring their unwanted medications to the drop boxes inside the entrance to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office or the department’s substation in the basement of the Horseshoe Bend City Hall.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Office is also participating in the Take-Back event.
Medications may be brought to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. The sheriff’s office is located at 5800 Law Drive in Harrison.
Harrison city police will have a drop-off set up at Ozark Crossing Mall Saturday from 10-1.
The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to children and to public health and safety. This event is intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse.
In the past, flushing medications and drugs seemed to be a safe and responsible method of disposal. It’s now realized the drugs do not completely disintegrate and are contaminating our waterways. Wastewater treatment plants and septic systems are not generally designed to treat pharmaceutical waste. The risk to the health of our waters is significant when we contribute to pollution by what we pour down our drains. This ends up in our creeks, rivers and lakes, and it places our drinking water supply at unnecessary risk.
The National Take-Back Day program is free and “no questions asked.” The drop off location will accept pills and medications in the bottle or in a bag or other disposable container. People may remove any or all labels from the bottles or containers The process is very easy…..simply drive up and drop them off.
In addition to this specific event, the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office has a secure drop box at 206 West Eight Street in Mountain Home that is accessible at all times. This lock box is under 24-hour recorded video surveillance for security purposes.
All pills and pharmaceuticals collected will later be destroyed using drug incinerator equipment. Anyone having questions about the National Take-Back Day or drop off procedures in Baxter County may contact the sheriff’s office for information.
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