The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office announced on April 21 that it will participate in the National Drug Take Back Initiative this Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The initiative aims to remove unused and expired medications from homes and medicine cabinets, providing a safe and anonymous way for residents to dispose of prescription drugs.
Residents can bring their unused prescription drugs for disposal to either the STPSO Law Enforcement Complex in Slidell at 300 Brownswitch Road or the complex in Covington at 2070 Collins Blvd. Accepted items include tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. The collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, illicit drugs, or unsealed liquid products; cough syrup and similar liquids should remain sealed tightly in their original containers.
The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. Participants are encouraged to remove any identifying information from containers before depositing them.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, most misused or abused prescription drugs are obtained from family or friends—often taken from home medicine cabinets. Authorities also warn that flushing medicines or throwing them away can pose safety and health hazards.
In addition to participating in this one-day event, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office offers permanent drug take-back boxes at both locations listed above. These boxes are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
More information about the April drug take back event is available at www.DEATakeBack.com.
