The Juneau Police Department’s drug drop box, usually only available on weekdays during business hours, will be available to the public this Saturday.
JPD Lt. Kris Sell said the department has received multiple requests to have Saturday hours to drop off unwanted or unused prescription medications. The box will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday only.
The drug drop is located in JPD’s lobby, 6255 Alaway Ave. No needles, liquids or gels are accepted.
Police installed the box in July 2015 to ensure Juneau residents had a proper way to dispose of prescription medications, reducing the risk of the drugs falling into the wrong hands and fueling drug addiction.
[JPD installs box for unwanted pills]
“Many current heroin users started their drug use with prescription medications, so drug take backs are an important step in lessening the number of new drug addicts added to the community,” Sell said in a statement. “Juneau’s surge in burglaries and thefts in 2015 and 2016 is tied to addicts trying to pay for drugs.”
Flushing prescription medications down the toilet is no longer an accepted method of disposing of medication. It’s bad for the environment and water quality, and the chemicals are discharged into local streams and rivers.
JPD is planning to have another Saturday drug take-back day in September.
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