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250 Pounds of Pills Turned in For Safe Disposal During Drug Take Back Event

Santa Fe, NM - October 9, 2014 – How many pounds of pills, unwanted, expired or not needed, are just sitting in medicine cabinets throughout Santa Fe County? On September 27, 2014 law enforcement, in a coordinated Drug Take Back event collected 250 pounds of these prescription medications at six different locations in Santa Fe County. Participating agencies include the Santa Fe County Community Services Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe Police Department, New Mexico State Police, Edgewood Police, and the Santa Fe County Fire Department.

“Over the last two years Santa Fe County residents have emptied their medicine cabinets of potentially harmful medications. Unused prescriptions are the easiest way for kids and others to get drugs to use for purposes other than healing,” said Rachel O’Connor, Santa Fe County Community Services Department Director. She continued, “This event took another 250 pounds of drugs safely off the streets and disposed of.”

Over the last two years more than 1800 pounds of outdated medication has been collected during these biannual events in Santa Fe County. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) coordinates the dates nation-wide.

The prescription drug overdose death rate in New Mexico is one of the highest in the United States and Santa Fe County is one of the highest in New Mexico. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, often right out of the home medicine cabinet. To prevent pill abuse, lock up prescription medication, especially opioid painkillers.

For more information, contact: Peter Olson, Santa Fe County DWI Program, (505) 992-9844 or polson@santafecountynm.gov.