S.O. to hold Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Walgreen’s at Judge Perez and Paris Road; Please bring in old or no longer needed drugs to be destroyed

Continuing a successful partnership with the Walgreens store in Chalmette, the Sheriff’s Office will hold another Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Walgreen’s at Judge Perez and Paris Road and ask everyone to bring in old or no longer needed drugs to be destroyed, Sheriff James Pohlmnann said.

The take-back, held every six months, has been important in keeping such medications from falling into the hands of young people by preventing them from reaching the streets to be sold illegally, the sheriff said. He said last April, 66 pounds of old prescription medications from more than 25 people were received in Chalmette as part of the National Drug Take-Back Day held at the Walgreens store in Chalmette.

“That was 66 pounds of prescription drugs that was incinerated and didn’t hit our streets to be abused or thrown down toilets or sinks and ultimately affect our seafood or drinking water,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Please encourage everyone you know to surrender old medications on Saturday.’’ “We thank Walgreens for allowing us to collect the medications outside their Chalmette store so people have a central location to come to,’’ the sheriff said.

Officers from the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, along with a deputy assigned to a federal Drug Enforcement Task force, will be in the parking lot of Walgreen’s to collect prescription medication. They can be brought in prescription bottles or in plastic bags, The Sheriff’s Office has participated for several years in the national drug take-back day and locally it was the Sheriff’s Office that began its own take-back day in 2009 called “Operation Medicine Cabinet,’’ which encouraged residents to clean out their medicine cabinets of old prescription drugs and turn them in to the department.

St. Bernard residents are reminded they should call the sheriff’s 271-DOPE hot line (271-3673) any time to report suspected illegal drug activity. They can also call the same number anytime they want to turn in prescription drugs between official drug take-back days. A Narcotics Unit agent will call them back to make arrangements.