Moorhead, MN - On Saturday October 28, the Moorhead Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Through our partnerships with the Moorhead Hornbachers, we will be accepting your medications for disposal on Saturday October 28. The Main Avenue Hornbachers located at 101 11 Street South will participate from 10 a.m - Noon. The Azool Hornbachers located at 950 40 Avenue South will participate from Noon - 2 pm.
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Pills can be left in a bottle or put in a zip lock bag. Liquids should be sealed in a bottle and secured in a zip lock bag. We ask that no needles are turned in.
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 prescriptions are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods of disposing of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Last year's event resulted in a record amount of medication collected in Moorhead. Continued educational efforts and the public's awareness of the associated dangers of retaining these drugs is helping make our community safer.
Moorhead Police Department
Lieutenant Tory Jacobson
218.299.5117
