Hand in unwanted prescription drugs on Saturdays at VSO sites in the region

Date Added: October 27, 2022 1:35 p.m.

Laura Williams, Office of
Public Affairs and Media Relations

VSO ACCEPTS UNWANTED MEDICATION AT DISTRICT OFFICES ON SATURDAY

This Saturday, you can safely rid your home of unwanted prescription drugs – to prevent a tragic accident or intentional misuse AND keep them out of our water supply.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, unwanted medications can be dropped off at these four Volusia Sheriff’s District offices as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day:

• District 2: 1706 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand;

• District 3 North: 1435 US 1, Suite D-3, Ormond Beach;

• District 4: 1691 Providence Blvd., Deltona;

• District 6: 79 S. Charles Beall Blvd., DeBary;

Can’t come on Saturday? Carefree. In addition to the Saturday collection day, each VSO site has a locked steel mailbox type disposal receptacle so you can safely dispose of these medications anytime during normal business hours throughout of the year, no questions asked.

Or Volusia County residents can call a deputy to pick up the drugs. Call our non-emergency number, (386) 248-1777, to request a pickup.

This national event is so important that it takes place twice a year, in April and October.

Opioid addiction remains out of control in the United States. Most people who abuse prescription drugs received the drug from a family member or friend, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States about 107,622 people died from drug poisoning last year. This means that in the United States, someone dies from drug poisoning every five minutes.

Removing unnecessary drugs from homes can prevent overdose injuries and deaths, and even reduce the risk of developing opioid addiction.

PROPERLY DISPOSE OF MEDICATIONS: Collection sites will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other forms of prescription drugs. We will NOT accept syringes, sharp needles or illegal drugs. Keep liquid products, such as cough syrup, sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly closed to prevent leaks.

DISPOSAL OF VAPING MATERIAL: The DEA will collect vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual users only after the batteries are removed from the devices. The DEA is not responsible for removing batteries from devices. If the battery cannot be removed, check with major electronic chain stores that may accept vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Or contact a local hazardous materials management center to find out if they accept these devices and for additional information on proper disposal.

In April 2022, the DEA collected and destroyed 360 tons of unnecessary drugs during National Prescription Drug Recovery Day events. In Florida, 533,120 books were collected and disposed of.

The DEA website www.dea.gov/resources offers great resources for locating addiction treatment programs as well as how to identify counterfeit pills, addiction prevention and more.

Thank you all for doing your part to protect your home and our environment.