Tucson, Ariz. – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today highlighted the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day April 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and its partners will accept unwanted medicine and prescription drugs at sites around Southern Arizona without charge.

Last September, Americans turned in more than 121 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by more than 3,000 DEA state and local law enforcement partners. The agency hopes to collect even more this spring by opening the event to long term care facilities. Participating Southern Arizona locations are listed below.

More Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets.

“This is a safe, free, responsible way to dispose of medicines and drugs that could otherwise end up harming someone,” Grijalva said. “We can all help end the prescription drug abuse epidemic by making sure unneeded medicine isn’t lying around or doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”

Four days after last fall’s event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General. The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of residents’ controlled substances in certain instances. DEA is now drafting regulations to implement the law.

Tucson Locations
The University Of Arizona Police Department
Conference Room #101
1852 East First Street

Tucson Police Department
Operations Division (Downtown)
270 S. Stone Ave

South Tucson Police Department
Lobby Entrance 1601 S. 6th Avenue

Marana Police Department (Target)
3901 W. Ina Road

Tucson Police Department
Operations Division (East) 9670 E. Golf Links

Yuma Locations
Yuma County Sheriff’s Office
District 2 Substation
3620 W. 8th Street

City Of Yuma Police Department
1500 S. 1st Avenue

Yuma County Sheriff’s Office
Main Office 141 S. 3rd Avenue

Yuma County Sheriff’s Office
District 4 Substation
11478 E. Joe Young Drive (Martinez Lake)

Arizona Department Of Public Safety
Highway Patrol District 4
2111 E. Gila Ridge Rd.

La Paz County Location

Quartzsite Police Department
305 N. Plymouth

Selected West Valley Locations
Goodyear Police Department
15050 W. Indian School Road

Arizona Department Of Public Safety
Highway Patrol Metro
11101 W. Peoria Ave. (Youngtown)

Avondale Police Department
Walgreen’s Pharmacy Parking Lot
10710 W. McDowell Road

El Mirage Police Department
14405 N. Palm Street

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Sun City Posse Station
10861 W. Sunland Drive

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Litchfield Elementary School
13825 W. Wigwam Blvd.

Goodyear Police Department
179 N. 145th Ave.

Goodyear Police Department
Safeway Parking Lot
9890 South Estrella Parkway

Gila River Police Department
District 6 Service Center
5230 W. St. Johns Road (Laveen)

Nogales Locations
Nogales Police Department
777 N. Grand Avenue

Santa Cruz County Metro Task Force
Rio Rico Pharmacy (In Front)
1103 Circulo Mercado