With fall in full swing, the Commerce Police Department is gearing up for the 25th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event scheduled for October 28, 2023. From 10 am to 2 pm, residents are invited to safely dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription medications at the Commerce Police Department, located at 1103 Sycamore St, Commerce TX 75428.
The initiative, aimed at promoting environmental safety and preventing drug abuse, encourages community members to clean out their medicine cabinets responsibly. Proper disposal prevents medications from contaminating water sources or being misused if thrown in household trash.
Expired or unused medications, if not disposed of properly, can pose serious risks to both the environment and public health. Flushing medications down the drain can contaminate drinking water, and discarded drugs in landfills can affect soil quality or be retrieved and abused.
During the last Prescription Take Back Event on April 24, 2023, the Commerce community contributed over 100 pounds of medications to the nationwide effort. Across more than 4,900 law enforcement collection sites, a total of 663,725 pounds of medications were collected, highlighting the event's significant impact.
The collected medications will be repurposed to generate fuel at refuse burning power plants, ensuring an eco-friendly solution while producing energy for thousands of consumers, including medical facilities and schools.
The event site will be conveniently set up in front of the Commerce Police Department building, offering curbside drop-off for anyone willing to participate. It's worth noting that participants need not be residents of the City of Commerce; the event is open to everyone interested in contributing to the cause.
The City of Commerce Police Department extends its gratitude in advance to all participants. By actively engaging in this event, community members are contributing to a safer environment for families and children in Commerce and surrounding areas.
For more information please contact the Commerce Police Department non-emergency line at (903) 886-1139, or, to find a site that may be closer to you please visit https://takebackday.dea.gov
