Douglas County drug take-back nets 1,090 pounds of meds

The Douglas County participation in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s drug take back event was deemed a success. Law enforcement officials from Parker to Castle Rock collected more than 1,000 pounds in unused prescription drugs as part of DEA’s push to provide a collection point for the safe disposal of unused medications.

The DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day was April 28, for residents to rid themselves of their unwanted or expired medications. Collection points in Douglas County were hosted by the Parker, Lone Tree and Castle Rock police departments and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Of the four agencies, Parker led the charge with the highest amount of medications collected, with 390 pounds of prescription drugs handed in at the Parker collection center.

The Lone Tree police department came in second, with two collection locations, one at the police department and the other at the 9Heatlh Fair at Skyridge Medical Center, said Officer Lionel Kahan, Lone Tree community partnership unit.

“This year we took in 20 boxes, totaling 308 pounds,” Kahan said.

The effort was the DEA’s fourth take-back day, which through October 2011 removed more than 995,185 pounds, or 498.5 tons, of medication from circulation nationwide since the effort began, according to the DEA’s website.

The National Drug Take-Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse.

“We’re very fortunate (the DEA) sponsors the event,” said Lt. Ron Hanavan, public information officer, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. “We collect it and they dispose of it. This is our fourth time participating in the event and we usually collect anywhere from 175 pounds to 250 pounds.”   

Douglas County’s numbers in National Drug Take-Back Day

Parker Police Department collected 390 pounds of prescription drugs.

Lone Tree Police – 308 pounds

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office – 250 pounds

Castle Rock Police – 142 pounds