Special to IFN

The Statesville Police Department will participate in the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walgreens, located at 951 Davie Avenue.

This event offers the public a safe and convenient way to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications.

For over a decade, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided an opportunity for Americans to rid their homes of potentially dangerous medications, preventing misuse that can often lead to addiction. The event offers free, anonymous disposal of tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs, with close to 5,000 local drop-off locations nationwide.

Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be tightly sealed in their original containers to prevent leakage. Additionally, the SPD’s location will be accepting syringes and sharps; however, other drop-off sites may not accept these items.

The October 2025 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, coordinated by the DEA, saw participation from over 4,200 law enforcement agencies and over 4,300 collection sites. A total of 571,054 pounds (268 tons) of prescription drugs were collected, contributing to an all-time total of over 20.3 million pounds (10,196 tons) of medications safely disposed of since the program’s inception.

Unused prescription drugs can often fall into the wrong hands, leading to dangerous and sometimes tragic outcomes. By participating in Take Back Day, community members have a chance to safely and responsibly dispose of these medications.

If you are unable to attend the event on April 25, you can still safely dispose of your unneeded medications by visiting the Statesville Police Department Headquarters at 330 S. Tradd Street on Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., where a collection bin is available.

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For more information or to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.