Galveston County agencies taking back unwanted prescription drugs National DEA Take Back Day set for April 28

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – Multiple Galveston County agencies this Saturday will partner with
the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day program,
giving the public a chance to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and
unwanted prescription drugs.
Take Back sites are planned for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Dickinson, Friendswood, Galveston, Kemah,
League City and Texas City. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills and
patches will be accepted. The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.
Last fall, Americans turned in 912,000 pounds of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites
operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in more than 9 million pounds of pills. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash— both pose potential safety and health hazards. DEA Take Back events in Galveston County include:


Dickinson Police Department
4000 Liggio St.

Texas City Police Department
1004 Ninth Ave. N
Kemah Police Department
Kemah City Hall
1401 Texas 146
League City Police Department Public Safety Building
555 West Walker St.
Galveston Police Department
601 54th St.
Friendswood Police Department
Hope Lutheran Church
1804 S. Friendswood Drive
Southeast Texas Poison Control Center at UTMB
Southeast Texas Poison Control Center at UTMB
301 University Blvd., Galveston
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Take Back Day event,
please visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
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The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) is the local public health agency for Galveston
County, Texas.
GCHD provides services and programs that protect the everyday health and well-being of
Galveston County.
P.O. Box 939 La Marque, Texas 77568 • (409) 938-7