Lake Charles Police Department Announces DEA National Prescription Takeback on October 29

The Lake Charles Police Department (LCPD) stated on October 24, 2022, that they will be collaborating with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to collect unwanted prescription medicines on Saturday, October 29, 2022.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., LCPD officers will be on-site at the Prien Lake Mall (496 West Prien Lake Road) in the southeast parking lot, behind Aaron’s Rent to Own. During this time, residents are invited to bring their unneeded prescription drugs for disposal. The DEA only accepts pills and patches, not liquids, needles, or sharps. The service is completely free and anonymous.

This is the public’s 23rd opportunity in 13 years to help prevent pill misuse and theft by cleaning their homes of potentially harmful, outdated, unused, and unwanted prescription medications.
Last year, Americans turned in 360 tons of prescription pharmaceuticals at more than 5,000 DEA and 4,400 state and local law enforcement partner-operated facilities. The DEA and its partners have collected nearly 15 million pounds of pills in 22 previous Take Back operations.

This effort addresses an important public safety and health concern. Medicines that sit in home cupboards are vulnerable to diversion, overuse, and abuse. Prescription drug misuse is on the rise in the United States, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses caused by these drugs.
Furthermore, Americans are also being warned that traditional means of disposing of unneeded medications, such as flushing them down the toilet or dumping them in the trash, pose potential safety and health risks.

For further information about prescription drug disposal or the October 29, 2022 “Take Back Day,” please contact Lieutenant Craig Wright at (337) 491-1320.