This is a great opportunity for those who have accumulated unwanted or unused prescription drugs to safely dispose of them. Unused or expired prescription medications are a public safety issue, leading to accidental poisoning, overdose, and abuse.
Common methods for disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.
The non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second, only to marijuana, as the most common form of drug abuse in America. The majority of teenagers abusing prescription drugs get them from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.
Medications may be brought for disposal between 10 a.m. and 2: p.m. on Sept. 29 to your nearest Louisiana State Police Troop.
This service is free and anonymous, no questions or requests for identification will be made.
The following guidelines apply:
- Controlled (those substances which require a doctor’s prescription), non-controlled and over the counter substances will be collected.
- All participants must retain possession of their own medication during the surrender process. Law enforcement personnel will not handle the medications at any time.
- Participants may dispose of medication in its original container, or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual should remove any identifying information from the prescription label.
- All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in the original container. Make sure the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.
- Syringes, intravenous solutions, injectables, and illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines are not part of this initiative, and should not be placed in collection containers.
“Abuse of prescription drugs is a serious threat to the safety of the people of Louisiana,” said Colonel Mike Edmonson, State Police Superintendent. “We are asking the citizens of Louisiana to help us properly dispose of these drugs, so we can eliminate the risk that they pose to our children and our families.”
At the Fourth National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative, Americans brought approximately 276 tons of prescription drugs to sites operated by DEA agents as well as state and local law enforcement partners across the United States.
This effort was extremely successful in removing and safely disposing of prescription drugs, particularly controlled substances.
Louisiana State Police Troop locations throughout the state will serve as collection sites. The Troop addresses are listed below for your convenience:
• Troop A
17801 Highland Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
(225) 754-8500
• Troop B
2101 I-10 Service Road
Kenner, LA 70065
(504) 471-2775
• Troop C
4047 West Park Avenue
Gray, LA 70359
(985) 857-3680
• Troop D
805 Main Street
Lake Charles, LA 70615
(337) 491-2511
• Troop E
1710 Odom Street
Alexandria, LA 71301
(318) 487-5911
• Troop F
1240 LA 594
Monroe, LA 71203
(318) 345-0000
• Troop G
5300 Industrial Drive Extension
Bossier City, LA 71112
(318) 741-7411
• Troop I
121 East Pont De Mouton
Lafayette, LA 70507
(337) 262-5880
• Troop L
2600 North Causeway
Mandeville, LA 70471
(985) 893-6250
For help with directions, you may dial the nearest State Police Troop phone number as listed or dial *LSP (*577) from your cellular phone. More information on prescription drug abuse may be found by visiting the following websites:
-www.dea.gov
-www.getsmartaboutdrugs.com
-www.justthinktwice.com
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