DEA Take-Back Day October 24, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.,

On October 24, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force will be participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medication can be brought to the Beltrami County Law Enforcement Center, located at 613 Minnesota Avenue, Bemidji MN. A red collection box is located in lobby where the prescriptions can be securely and anonymously left.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative addresses a critical public safety and public health issue. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Because the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration have advised the public that flushing their prescription drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards, DEA launched its prescription drug take back program to encourage the safe disposal of medications.

Now in its tenth year, DEA has collected a total of over 12.5 million pounds (more than 6,300 tons) of expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications through its Take Back Day events. On October 24th, approximately 6,300 collection sites manned by nearly 5,000 partner law enforcement agencies will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The public can find a nearby collection site at http://www.DEATakeBack.com or by calling 800-882-9539. (DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps.)

The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force covers Beltrami County, Hubbard County, Cass County, Koochiching

County, Mahnomen County, City of Bemidji, City of Park Rapids, City of International Falls, Leech Lake

Reservation, and White Earth Reservation.