October 25, 2023
Two local police departments will be collecting prescription medications this weekend as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 25th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
In a social media post, the Chubbuck Police Department explained:
Help us keep our local community safe by participating in this weekend’s “drug take back” push. Swing by the Chubbuck Police Department or the Pocatello Police Department this Saturday (October 28th), from 10 am – 2 pm, and turn in all your unused or expired prescription medication.
The Pocatello Police Department added details in the notes on their Facebook event page:
Safely dispose of prescriptions this Saturday 10/28/23 from 10am-2pm at the Pocatello Police Department. Look for banners on the east side of the department.
*Edit: Pocatello Free Clinic will be setting up their van and providing their services near the drive through drop off garage on the east side of the building.
In a press release issued on Monday, Idaho’s Office of Drug Policy had this to say about Drug Take Back Day and about the effects of prescription drug abuse in the state:
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 14 million Americans misused prescription medication in 2021 – many obtained from family and friends, often in the home medicine cabinet. The prevalence of misuse was highest among young adults aged 18-25 years old.
Idaho is not immune to the problem of prescription misuse. NSDUH state prevalence estimates approximate that over 40,000 Idahoans aged 12 and older misused prescription pain relievers in 2021. Additionally, results from the 2021 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior and Idaho Healthy Youth Surveys found that nearly 14% of Idaho 9-12th graders reported that they had misused a prescription drug one or more times in their life. While a majority of youth did not report misusing prescription drugs, of those that did, over 40% took or received them from a family member or friend, and nearly 75% misused the medication in their own home.
Substance misuse and drug overdose deaths have continued to climb in Idaho, with the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare’s Idaho Drug Overdose Data Dashboard reporting 381 drug overdoserelated deaths and 4,438 drug overdose-related emergency department visits in 2022. The detrimental impacts of prescription misuse make it even more vital for Idahoans to remove unused medications from our homes, where they can easily find their way into the wrong hands.
The Idaho Office of Drug Policy appreciates the efforts of Take Back Day event organizers across the state; and encourages Idahoans to take advantage of this opportunity to help prevent drug misuse and improve the health and safety of our communities.
Help keep Idaho safe from the dangers of prescription misuse by dropping off your old medication on Saturday, October 28th.
If you miss your local Take Back Day and need to dispose of prescription medications, find yearround drop-off locations online at odp.idaho.gov/prescription-drug-take-back-program/
