Drugs

Last Saturday, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted their 14th nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and the Perry Police Department was able to collect around 37 pounds of drugs.

Police Chief Eric Vaughn says that amount is a little less than what they’ve typically collected over the years, which is usually between 40 and 50 pounds. At the drug take back event in May, the department collected 46 pounds. In spite of the lower numbers out of Perry, the DEA reported a record-setting day. All total, they collected over 456 tons of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from more than 5,300 collection sites around the country. They accepted both pills and patches, which will be incinerated.

The drug take back day is an effort between the DEA and local law enforcement to curb the rising opioid abuse epidemic in the country, by helping citizens rid their homes of their unused prescriptions. They are held twice a year, with the next event happening in May.