Baylor Police Department Hosts Collection Site for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Media Contact: Tonya B. Hudson, 254-710-4656
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WACO, Texas (Oct. 23, 2017) – Baylor University’s Police Department (BUPD) will be participating in the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, presented by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). BUPD will have a DEA reception box from October 25-30 in the station’s lobby, 1521 S. 4th St.
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to drop off expired, unwanted and unused prescription drugs to be properly disposed of by the DEA.
“The importance of the drug take-back program is to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications,” said Scott Curry, BUPD’s crime prevention officer. “There are many substances such as pain killers and ADHD medications that have very high addiction rates. We want to provide a safe place to properly dispose of the medications so they do not get in the wrong hands.”
Baylor participated in this event for the first time last August and collected 75 pounds of expired medications that were disposed of in a controlled manner by the DEA. Stephanie Drum, VASA Coalition Coordinator with Voice Inc., approached BUPD and played an instrumental role in introducing Baylor to the program. Last April, the DEA calculated that 8,103,363 pounds (4,052 tons) of prescription drugs have been properly disposed of since the first event in 2010.
By properly disposing of prescription drugs, one can significantly reduce the risk of accidental child and pet drug ingestion. In addition to household safety, controlled disposal of drugs also minimizes amount of substances that show up in the nation’s water system.
The service is free and anonymous. To learn more about BUPD, visit the Department of Public Safety website.
by Brooke Battersby , student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.