Fairbanks Police Dept. hosts Drug Take Back Day this Saturday

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Twice a year, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) holds a national event called Drug Take Back Day.

It is a day dedicated for folks to go to participating locations in their state to turn over any unused or expired medications.

Saturday, April 22 , from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) will be participating in the national event. Inside the FPD lobby will be a safe disposal box for anyone to come in and safely dispose of their medications they no longer need.

FPD will also be joined by staff members of the Fairbanks Native Association’s Community Opioid Program to assist and answer any questions folks may have.

“Undisposed or unused medications can be a public safety hazard in a couple different ways. Number one sometimes people like to flush drugs down the toilet which can seep into the ground water. So we don’t recommend that you to do that. The second is it’s easy access for minor children [or] other people to take that medication and use it or sell it,” said FPD Chief Ron Dupee.

Dupee added, “The best thing to do is to dispose of it properly. That’s why we offer the drug take back twice a year.”

Don’t worry if you miss Take Back Day this weekend because FPD keeps a safe medication and a separate safe needle disposal box in their lobby. Folks in the community are welcome to make use of those resources at any time, no questions asked.

Both Fred Meyer locations will also be participating in Drug Take Back Day during the same day and same time, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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