MDEQ Promotes Drug Take Back Events

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 overthe-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:

Brandon Police Department
1455 West Government Street
Brandon, Ms 39042

Gulfport Police Dept. Operations Bldg.
2810 34th Avenue
Gulfport, Ms 39501

12th Circuit Court Narcotics Enforcement Team
Forrest Countyn 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 PoliceDepartment
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
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/