Chief Tim Lentz announces that on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 10 a. m. to 2 p.m. The Covington P0lice Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will give the public its 15th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Covington Police Department at 609 N. Columbia St. (the DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last fall Americans turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 9 million pounds – more than 45,000 tons of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. Are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines – flushing them down the toilet or throwing then in the trash – both pose potential safety and health hazards.
In addition to participating in the take-back events hosted by the DEA, the Covington Police Department has a drug disposal bin inside the main lobby at 200 E. Kirkland St., where unwanted medications can be disposed of 24 hours a day, year round.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28th Take-Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.
Meet the Covington Fire Department in May
Covington Weekly routinely highlights the nationally recognized Covington Police Department in a series called, Meet the Covington Police Department. We will continue to bring you Covington Police updates and highlights, and beginning in May 2018, CW will bring you profiles on the Fire Department in a series entitled, Meet the Covington Fire Department. Support your local first responders!
Each year, the CFD answers more than 1,400 emergency calls. CFD firefighters spend many hours on outreach for fire prevention in the community. The CFD conducts fire prevention programs in local schools simulating the conditions of a fire, teaching students how to formulate and execute an emergency exit plan. Visit covla.com.
