People in Southcentral Alaska with leftover medications can get rid of those drugs Saturday with a no-questions-asked drug take-back event.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, unwanted medications can be brought to the following Fred Meyer locations:
- 2300 Abbott Road, Anchorage
- 7701 DeBarr Road, Anchorage
- 13401 Old Seward Highway, Eagle River
- 650 N. Cobb St., Palmer
- 1501 E. Parks Highway, Wasilla
The free and anonymous event -- a collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Anchorage Police Department -- is an effort to prevent drug abuse and theft. Alaska, along with the rest of the nation, has seen a surge in opiate abuse in recent years. A new task force was announced this month to address Alaska's heroin and opioid crisis.
Liquids, needles and sharps won't be accepted -- only pills and patches, according to a release from APD. The drugs gathered will be incinerated, said Michael Root, assistant special agent in charge at the DEA's Anchorage office.
During Alaska's last drug take-back in September 2015, 2,766 pounds of drugs were removed from circulation, according to Heidi Edwards at the DEA's Anchorage office. Combining the 10 past take-backs from 2010 through 2015, 23,181 pounds of drugs were taken off Alaska streets.
People can visit dea.gov and click on the "Got Drugs?" icon to find other drug take-back location sites.