Agencies to host ‘drug take back’ Saturday

Local law enforcement agencies will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday where people may drop off their unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office will host drop-off locations at Walmart in Bayou Vista and Walgreens in Franklin Morgan City Police Department will also have locations available for people to drop off unused and unwanted medications at Walgreens Pharmacy and Walmart Neighborhood Market in Morgan City.
Drop off times are from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because they can be accidentally ingested, stolen, misused and abused. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs, a sheriff’s office news release said.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their home of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription pills and patches safely, conveniently and responsibly. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Liquids and needles are not accepted, the release said.

Morgan City police also said people may show up at Walmart Neighborhood Market or Walgreens Pharmacy in Morgan City with the unwanted prescription drugs and turn them over to Morgan City police personnel with no questions asked.

There is has a drop off box in the front office of the Morgan City Police department where you can drop off unwanted medications year round. Anyone with questions may call the police department at 985-380-4605.