FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National “Take Back” Initiative September 26, 2015

Tampa, Fla. – Got Drugs? This is the tenth DEA National Take Back day where local prevention coalitions and law enforcement agencies are collecting expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs and over the counter medications. The Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, passed by Congress and signed by President Obama, amended the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), allowing the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) to develop permanent, ongoing and responsible methods for disposal of these substances.

According to www.awarerx.org, “6.5 million Americans use prescription drugs, such as pain relievers, tranquilizer, and stimulants non-medically”. Additionally, “more than 50 percent of people 12 and older get them family or friends for free”. Let’s all do our part and get rid of this potential danger lurking in our medicine cabinets and homes.To find out where you can properly dispose of your unused, unwanted and/or expired medications check out the many locations available on this day go to: www.awarerx.org. Most participating locations are open 10:00 am till 2:00 pm; however, go to the web link or contact the location specifically to verify. The following locations shown by county are participating in this “Take Back” event:

Collier County

Collier County Sheriff’s Office (East Naples) 2219 Tamiami Trail East 34112  (239) 774-4434

Collier County Sheriff’s Office (Golden Gate)  4707 Golden Gate Parkway 34116  (239) 455-3121

Collier County Sheriff’s Office (Immokalee) 112 South First Street 34142  (239) 657-6168

Collier County Sheriff’s Office (North Naples) 776 Vanderbilt Beach Road 34108 239-252-8617

Naples Police Department 355 Riverside Circle Naples, FL 34102  (239) 213-4890

Naples Recycling Center 2640 Enterprise Avenue Naples, FL 34104  (239) 643-3099

Marco Island Police Department 51 Bald Eagle Drive 34145  (239) 389-5050

North Collier Recycling Center 9950 Goodlette Frank Rd. N 34109  (239) 252-8617

Hardee County

CVS 391 South 6th Avenue Wauchula, FL 33873 863-767-1195

Highlands County

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office North Sub Station 304 W. Pleasant Street, Avon Park, FL 863-4027800

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Sub Station Liberty Star Plaza 7177 South George Boulevard, Sebring, FL 863-402-7206

Lake Placid Police Department, 8 North Oak Avenue, Lake Placid, FL 863-699-3757 Sebring Police Department, 307 N. Ridgewood Drive, Sebring, FL 863-471-5108

Hillsborough County

CVS 10623 Gibsonton Drive Riverview, FL 33569

CVS 2302 James L. Redman Pkwy. Plant City, FL 33563

USF Morsani Center 13330 Laurel Drive Tampa, FL 33612

Winn-Dixie 2525 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL 33607

Lee County

Cape Coral Police Department, 1100 Cultural Park Boulevard, Cape Coral, FL (239) 574-3223

Fort Myers Police Department, 2210 Widman Way, Fort Myers, FL (239) 321-7700

Lee County Sheriff’s Office Substations (239) 477-1820

• 121 Pondella Road, North Fort Myers, FL
• 1301 Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres, Fl
• 15650 Pine Ridge Road, Fort Myers, FL
• 8951 Bonita Beach Road, Springs Plaza #565, Bonita Springs, FL 13921-4 Waterfront Road, Pineland, FL

Pasco County

Gulf View Square Mall, 9409 US Highway 19, New Port Richey (Overflow parking Lot next to Panera Bread)

The Shops at WireGrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel (First floor of the parking garage next to the car detailing service)

Pinellas County

Clearwater Police Department: 645 Pierce Street, Clearwater

Largo Police Department: 201 Highland Avenue, Largo

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Administration Building: 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo

Pinellas County Sheriff’s North District Office: 737 Louden Avenue, Dunedin

Pinellas Park Police Department: 7700 59th Street, Pinellas Park

St. Petersburg Police Department: 1300 First Avenue North, St. Petersburg

Tarpon Springs Police Department: 444 South Huey Avenue, Tarpon Springs Treasure Island Police Department: 180 108th Avenue, Treasure Island

Polk County

Auburndale Police Department, 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale

Haines City Police Department, 35400 Highway 27 North, Haines City

Lake Alfred Police Department, 190 North Seminole Avenue, Lake Alfred

Lakeland Police Department, 219 North Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland

Winter Haven Police Department, 125 North Lake Silver Drive, Winter Haven

Sarasota County

New College Police Department, 501 College Drive, Sarasota

North Port Police Department, 4980 City Hall Boulevard, North Port

Sarasota County Sheriff Office District Four, 4531 State Route 776, Venice

Sarasota County Sheriff Office District One, 2071 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota

Sarasota Police Department, 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota

Venice Police Department, 1350 East Ridgewood Avenue, Venice

For more information or to see if more locations have been added near you go to: www.dea.gov. You can also access permanent drop box locations from the CFBHN website by clicking on the tab GeoMapping at the top of your screen. For Agency, select Rx Drug Drop Box, input your Zip code and click on the Search button. The red balloon indicators on the map represent locations. Click on them and detailed information will appear.