"Drug Take Back" day takes place Saturday at the Aspen Police Department between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It’s an event where people can anonymously drop off medication that will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. Aspen Public Radio’s Carolyn Sackariason has more.
Police will accept prescription medication in the form of tablets, capsules and other solids. The Aspen Police Department hosts this event twice a year — in the spring and fall, to give people the opportunity to dispose of drugs that are expired or unused.
This is for both environmental and safety reasons. Many people flush drugs down the toilet or throw them away, which can be damaging to water systems and landfills.
Michele McClinton is the customer service officer and evidence custodian for the police department. She said it’s important to dispose of these drugs so they don’t get in the wrong hands.
"It had become very evident through law enforcement that many drug overdoses are happening from kids or adults getting into medication and medicine cabinets that don’t belong to them," she said. "Suddenly there are overdoses happening that shouldn’t be happening."
So, what happens to all of these drugs? McClinton said the Drug Enforcement Agency picks up all the pills and takes them to a specific landfill in each state where the drugs are mixed with cement. In Colorado, that landfill is in the town of Bennett. They could also be incinerated, as long as it meets EPA standards.
If you miss Take-Back day, you can drop drugs off year round at the police station.