Windermere Police Department to participate in DEA's National Prescription Drug Takeback

The Windermere Police Department is participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Take Back Day provides an opportunity for people across the United States to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths by safely disposing of their prescription medications. 

According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.

The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

The Windermere PD are coming together to support the movement by hosting one of the drop-off stations at its headquarters on Robinson Street. 

The site will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. 

Several other drop-off locations will be scattered across the Central Florida area for Take Back Day this weekend including one in Ocoee on Story Road. 

A full list of drop-off locations can be viewed here. 

Last year's October Take Back Day gathered 4,153 law enforcement participants at 4,587 collection sites across the U.S. The total weight of medications collected was 985,392 pounds.