MARION COUNTY, FL (October 16, 2017)
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative on Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative is a safe, convenient and anonymous way of disposing of prescription drugs and preventing them from falling into the hands of those who might abuse them. This is a one-day event where Marion County citizens can bring in their unused or unwanted prescription medications to three MCSO locations.
These locations are:
South Marion District Office
8230 SE 165th Mulberry Lane
The Villages, FL 32162
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Southwest District Office
9048 SW SR 200
Ocala, FL 34481
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South Multi District Office
3260 SE 80th Street
Ocala, FL 34480
During the last National Drug Take Back Day in April 2017, 900,386 pounds (450 tons) of prescription medication were collected by local law enforcement and the DEA nationwide, with 29,055 pounds collected in Florida alone. The MCSO collected 862 pounds of medication in April 2017 and it was submitted to the DEA for safe disposal.