Gwinnett Daily Post

Several local police departments will participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s nationwide prescription drug take-back day, encouraging residents to turn in dangerous expired drugs for destruction.

As of Tuesday, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office will join police departments from Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Snellville, Norcross and Loganville in participating during the Sept. 25 event.

IF YOU GO

Local prescription drug take-back locations

• Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, 2900 University Parkway, Lawrenceville

• Lawrenceville Police Department, 300 Jackson St., Lawrenceville

• Suwanee Police Department, 373 Buford Highway, Suwanee

• Snellville Police Department, 2686 Springdale Road, Snellville

• Emory Eastside Medical Center, 1700 Medical Way, Snellville

• Norcross Police Department, 65 Lawrenceville St., Norcross

• Loganville Police Department, 605 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville

Frequently updated collection sites can be found at www.dea.gov.

“Addressing the problem of the abuse of controlled pharmaceuticals continues to be one of DEA’s top priorities,” Rodney G. Benson, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Atlanta field division, said in a statement. “One such way to address this issue is to encourage the public to properly remove their unwanted, unused and dated prescription medications from their homes.”

According to the DEA, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from friends and family.

Collections will take place at all locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“According to the (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) crime lab, the primary area of increased drug-related deaths come from abuse of prescription medicines,” Snellville police chief Roy Whitehead said. “Please do your part in getting rid of a potential source for these drugs by turning them in.”