National Drug Take Back Day, a bi-annual event law enforcement uses to provide a safe, convenient and responsible way of disposing of expired or unwanted prescription drugs, is Saturday. The event coincides with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and invites the community to safely dispose of unused or expired medication before they may be obtained and misused.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can turn in those medications for safe disposal at a number of locations around the county, including the HCA Florida Osceola (700 Oak St.) and Poinciana (325 Cypress Pkwy.) hospitals. HCA Florida Healthcare is making part of its “Crush the Crisis” national opioid take back day, held during the annual October campaign (law enforcement also usually holds another in April) to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and the importance of safe and proper disposal of unused or expired medications. Last October, 96 HCA Healthcare facilities in 17 states collected 15,566 pounds of unused and expired prescription.
Other locations to drop off unwanted medication in St. Cloud are Save-A-Lot (916 13th St.) and Publix (3372 Canoe Creek Road).
Popular expired or unwanted medications found in the home that often show up at Take Back events include various tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana).
Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication (in leak-proof containers) and vape cartridges (without batteries) and pet medications will also be accepted. Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.