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On Saturday, April 25, 2015 Santa Fe residents turned in 251 pounds of pills to be destroyed. The unused, unwanted or expired medication was collected during the drug take back event hosted by Santa Fe County Community Services Department, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe Police and Fire Departments, and the Santa Fe Prevention Alliance.

“Unused prescriptions are the easiest way for kids and others to get drugs to use for purposes other than healing. It is so important to remove this easy access, lock up the medication you need and safely dispose of those prescriptions that are no longer essential,” said Rachel O’Connor Director of Santa Fe County Community Services Department.

Over the last two years more than a ton of outdated medication has been collected during these twice a year events in Santa Fe County. There are now two permanent drop box locations where drugs can be safely disposed. The Santa Fe Police Department has one in their lobby and the Santa Fe Fire Department has one at Station 1 at 200 Murales Road.

There is currently no plan to continue these special events as the Drug Enforcement Administration no longer sponsors them.

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 as these highly prescribed medications are being used by kids to get high and are more common in impaired driving crashes and arrests.

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