The Los Alamos Police Department collection site set up Saturday near the patio at Smith’s Maketplace. Courtesy/LAPD

LAPD Evidence Technician Anthony Lucero assists a citizen with a drop off. Courtesy/LAPD

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department collected 312 pounds of unwanted and unused prescriptions during Saturday’s drug take back day.

The total collection amount was from drop offs made to the LAPD drug box located in the police station lobby at the Judicial Complex and the two collection sites in Los Alamos and White Rock. 

“This National Initiative to take controlled prescriptions out of circulation continues to be a great success in our community. This initiative helps take away the potential for these medications to be stolen or misused,” Cmdr. Oliver Morris said.

According to the DEA, the National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.