Local law enforcement agencies are participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration National Drug Take Back on Saturday, Oct. 29.
National Drug Take Back Day happens two times each year, once in April and another in October.
Grovetown Public Safety Maj. Robert Eastman says this event is important for people to get rid of their unused prescription drugs, so they can be destroyed and not make it on the street.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, local law enforcement with several agencies including the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Grovetown Public Safety and Richmond County Sheriff’s Office will be at several locations including the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Substation, Kroger at 435 Lewiston Road, and the CVS and Walgreens on Horizon South Parkway in Grovetown, CVS at 2902 Peach Orchard Rd and CVS at 1520 Walton Way.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, National Drug Take Back Day reflects on its commitment to Americans’ safety and health by encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.
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Drug overdose deaths are currently at a record high with over 107,000 deaths in the 12-month period ending January 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC said more than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl.
Earlier this month, Richmond County authorities seized over 1,000 fentanyl pills at an Augusta home, and a Grovetown man was arrested for allegedly passing out fentanyl-laced cocaine that killed a party guest.
“We are having a higher number of drug overdoses,” said Eastman. “Fentanyl is out there. To get high, people take anything they can.”
Grovetown Public Safety has collected around 100 pounds of prescription drugs during the event each year according to Eastman.
“It makes a big difference. By just this initiative we are having here. It’s just like keeping guns off the street, keeping drugs off the street and people who they are not prescribed to, keeping it out of their hands,” he said. “It keeps it out of kids’ hands, some kids may see it and not realize it’s drugs. It is to keep the community safe.”
Chris Rickerson is a staff reporter covering Columbia County government and general assignment topics for The Augusta Press. Reach him at chris@theaugustapress.com.
