Arizona attorney general to help lead prescription drug disposal event to prevent opioid misuse
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes will participate in an event on Saturday, April 26, aimed at raising awareness and preventing opioid addiction.
The community of Sun Lakes, just south of Phoenix, will host a Shred-A-Thon and Drug Take-Back event as part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. It will be one of over 4,000 free drop-off sites nationwide for unused prescription medications.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on April 26 at 10440 E. Riggs Road.
People can drop off tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of unused prescription drugs. However, liquids, IV solutions, syringes, sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted.
The Attorney General's Office will also distribute drug deactivation pouches, offering a safe way to dispose of medications at home.
As the name suggests, there will be shredding trucks at the event, which previously helped Arizonans scrap about 185,000 pounds of shredded documents.
The Drug Enforcement Administration partnered with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the Sun Lakes Posse and the Attorney General's Office to put on the event, which aims to encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes and prevent misuse.
According to a news release, the Attorney General's Office has collected more than 1,000 pounds of prescription drugs during Mayes' tenure.
"These Drug Take-Back events are just one of the tools in our toolbox as we continue to curb the opioid epidemic," Mayes said.
More help urged: Arizona AG calls for more DEA agents, federal funding after drug bust operation
Taking initiative: New Chandler opioid crisis team 'aims to make a meaningful difference in saving lives'
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona attorney general to help lead prescription drug disposal event
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