Baylor Police Department Will Participate in National Drug Take-Back Day
Prescription drug disposal helps to keep pharmaceuticals from being abused
WACO, Texas (April 25, 2019) – The Baylor University Police Department (BUPD) will collect old and expired prescription drugs as part of a national take-back day Saturday, April 27. Although the official collection day is on Saturday, BUPD will begin accepting prescription drugs Friday, April 26.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Take-Back Day is a safe, convenient and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. The take-back day will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at BUPD in Speight Avenue Parking Garage, 1521 S. Fourth St.
“The Baylor Police Department provides our community with a comprehensive array of safety services, and we thought our participation would make it very convenient for our students, faculty and staff to dispose of expired or unused prescription drugs,” said Baylor Police Chief Brad Wigtil. “BUPD wants to assist our community members in disposing of old prescription drugs to help create a safer home environment and prevent the diversion of these drugs.”
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans abused prescription pain relievers. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. To facilitate the removal of unused and expired prescription drugs year-round, BUPD has a permanent prescription drug disposal box in the police department lobby that is available to the Baylor and Waco communities.
In April 2018, Texas led the nation in the DEA-sponsored program disposing of 82,978 pounds of expired and unused prescription medications. California was second with 69,883 pounds. Last year, BUPD collected approximately 120 pounds of prescription drugs.
The drugs will be collected in a locked box in BUPD and delivered to the DEA to be safely destroyed.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 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.