Plano residents have the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unwanted drugs during the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back event on April 27. Plano Police Department is teaming up with the DEA for this initiative, which aims to curtail the potential abuse and theft of medications.

The event offers a no-cost, anonymous way for people to get rid of their surplus prescription and over-the-counter meds, from tablets to capsules. Saturday's collection drive will be ready from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at several locations throughout the city. However, participants should note that the take-back program will not accept intravenous solutions, injectables, inhalers, and needles, and is not designed to handle illegal substances such as marijuana or methamphetamines.

According to the Plano Texas Police Department, the take-back scheme is a preventive measure aiming "to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets." Flushing medicines down the toilet or tossing them in the trash poses environmental risks and health hazards, making the take-back initiative a preferred option.

Collection sites will be hosted at Plano Senior High School, Clark High School, Plano East Senior High School, and Plano West Senior High School. The Plano Police's efforts are part of a larger campaign to ensure that unused medicine does not become a source of harm nor fall into the wrong hands to be potentially misused or diverted into the community.

Residents seeking further details on the event can reach out to Plano's Crime Prevention Unit at [email protected] or by calling 972-941-2439 for assistance. This Drug Take Back event is an effort to keep homes and the community safer, weaving together the collective responsibility of law enforcement and the public in addressing the risk of unused drugs.