National Drug Take Back day, how locales are helping the community
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – One of the easiest ways for drug abusers to find their fix is in the drug cabinets of family and friends. Forgotten or expired drugs can make their way into the hands of people they were not meant for.
To prevent that, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is holding a National Drug Take Back on Saturday, April 26th.
This event encourages everyone in the community to remove unneeded or expired medicine. The DEA says this is a way to keep these drugs out of the hands of those who might misuse them, especially minors.
Kroger Health joins National Drug Take Back Day initiative
'Let's say the kids want to experiment with a narcotic. This takes that opportunity away from them. It gives you a safe way to get rid of the unwanted or unused drugs as well. And they just don't, they don't fall into the wrong hands or they don't get into children's hands just for curiosity's sake,' said Rick Garletts, the public information officer for the Virginia State Police 6th division.
The Roanoke City Police Department will be at Melrose Plaza from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, collecting any medicine, no questions asked. The only thing that cannot be taken is any kind of needle or sharps.
'It gives us the ability to be able to make sure that seniors or family members in their community are made aware that getting those unused prescriptions or over the drug medications out of your house, especially if they expired and things like that, and putting them back into a safe space or environment where we can then turn them back in for you,' said Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash.
Lynchburg Krogers to host DEA's National Drug Take Back Day
Along with the drug take-back, you can bring up to two bags of documents to the Melrose Plaza to shred to avoid anyone taking your information for scams.
In last year's drug take-back day, the DEA reported that the Commonwealth received more than 17,000 lbs of drugs.
'It amazes me every year how much poundage of medication we do take back. It shows that people are paying attention. They're checking their expiration dates. They're getting rid of the things that they don't need. And, you know, even if it's just one bottle, that's one bottle that might not make it to the wrong hands,' said Derrick Botkins, the Director of Pharmacy Services at Lewis Gale.
There will be multiple drug take-back events across the commonwealth on Saturday. You can click here, enter your zip code, and find the closest one to you.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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