Operation Medicine Cabinet: DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative

TAMPA, Fla. - Is your medicine cabinet filled with expired drugs or medications you no longer use?

If so, there are several community take-back programs this weekend in honor of the 2nd annual DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, April 30th.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office along with the Tampa Police Department will collect unused or expired prescription medications to prevent potentially dangerous drugs from getting into the wrong hands. It's all part of their ongoing effort to crack down on illegal pill mills and prevent prescription drug abuse.

The unused prescription drugs will be collected at four Sweetbay locations from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You'll be able to drop off any prescription medications you no longer use and can remain anonymous, with no questions asked.

Attorney General Pam Bondi will be at the Sweetbay location in Valrico at 10:00 a.m. speaking about how important this initiative is and the dangers of keeping prescription drugs in the home.

The Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance supports this take back initiative and will provide volunteers and educational materials at the collection sites.

Collection sites in Hillsborough County:
Sponsored by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office:
Sweetbay Supermarket
5320 Ehrlich Road
Tampa, Fla. 33624

Sweetbay Supermarket
2535 State Road 60 East
Valrico, Fla. 33594

Sponsored by Tampa Police Department:
Sweetbay Supermarket
2525 North Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa, Fla.  33607

Sweetbay Supermarket
2100 West Swann Avenue
Tampa, Fla. 33606

For more information on the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and more collection sites, please visit http://bit.ly/eAsrwP

Last September, Americans turned in over 242,000 pounds--121 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by more than 3,000 of the DEA's state and local law enforcement partners.

The agency hopes to collect even more this year.