Turn in unused or unwanted prescription drugs at Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Sheriff’s Office sub-station at 7001 West Judge Perez Drive at Aycock Street in Arabi

Sheriff James Pohlmann is urging people not to let their unused or unwanted prescription medications such as pain-killer pills fall into the wrong hands.

Instead, turn them in to the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the sub-station at 7001 West Judge Perez Drive on National Drug Take-Back Day.

“This has been a highly successful program for us,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Its aim is to get rid of unused or no longer needed drugs from medicine chests so no one else finds them and uses them or sells them on the streets.’’

“Don’t let young people get hooked on pills they find while visiting you,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, and “don’t throw medication in the garbage where it can be found or down the toilet where it can end up affecting wildlife or seafood in marshes.’’

“Instead, bring any medication you don’t use to us so it can be destroyed properly.’’

Last May, the Sheriff’s Office received a record 150 pounds of medications of all sorts during the last time a drug take-back day was held. The Take-Back Day is held in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and State Police efforts.

The goal of getting rid of excess prescriptions is important, the sheriff said, because studies show young people often first abuse prescription drugs after stealing them from medicine chests at the homes of relatives or at parents of friends.

“The amount collected from the public means those pills and other drugs never reach the streets to be abused, often by young people,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Drugs collected are incinerated.
Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit officers will be at the Arabi sub-station to collect prescription medication. They can be brought in pill bottles or in any type of bag.
Residents are reminded they can also call the sheriff’s 271-DOPE hot line (271-3673) at any time they want to turn in prescription drugs between official drug take-back days. A Narcotics Unit agent will call them back to make arrangements.
St. Bernard residents should also call the sheriff’s 271-DOPE hot line anonymously at any time to report suspected illegal drug activity. All calls will be acted upon.