FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Robbie Wilbur
September 23, 2010 601/961-5277
MDEQ PROMOTES DRUG TAKE BACK EVENTS
(JACKON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is encouraging Mississippians to participate in the upcoming drug take back events sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) this Saturday, September 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. People may bring unwanted solid prescription and over-the-counter medicines so they may be disposed of safely. Liquid medications, such as cough syrup will not be accepted.
Law enforcement agencies in Mississippi that are participating in the event and the addresses of the drop-off locations are as follows:
| Sponsor | Drop Off Location | Address | City |
| Brandon Police Department | Brandon Police Department | 1455 West Government Street | Brandon, Ms 39042 |
| Gulfport Police Department | Gulfport Police Dept Operations Bldg. | 2810 34th Avenue | Gulfport, Ms 39501 |
| 12th Circuit Court Narcotics Enforcement Team | Forrest County Multi-purpose Bldg. | 962 Sullivan Drive | Hattiesburg, Ms 39401 |
| Olive Branch Police Department | First Baptist Church | 9235 Pigeon Roost Road | Olive Branch, Ms 38654 |
| Pascagoula Police Department | Jackson County Civic Center | 2902 Shortcut Road | Pascagoula, Ms 39567 |
| Pass Christian Police Department | Pass Christian Public Library | 111 Hiern Avenue | Pass Christian, Ms 39571 |
| Pearl Police Department | Pearl Police Department Lobby | 2422 Old Brandon Road | Pearl, Ms 39208 |
| Terry Police Department | Terry Community Center (on side of Post Office) | 104 Madison Street | Terry, Ms 39170 |
| Warren County Sheriff’s Office | Warren County Sheriff’s Office | 1000 Grove Street | Vicksburg, Ms 39183 |
| Warren County Sheriff’s Office | Vicksburg Factory Outlet Mall | 4000 S. Frontage Road | Vicksburg, Ms 39183 |
The event does not restrict drop off to only residents of the sponsoring community; therefore, residents may drop off unused medications at any nearby event site.
Unused drugs that are stored around the home may present a danger to people as well as to the environment when disposed of. Removing unused medications from the home can help prevent intentional misuse and unintentional poisonings of children and pets. However, dumping the medication down the drain or flushing it down the toilet can become a source of water contamination. Research is continuing into whether such water contamination adversely impacts human health or aquatic life.
Additional information on the take back events nationwide is available on the DEA’s website: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback, and information on pharmaceuticals as pollutants can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/ppcp/
# # # |