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BATON ROUGE, LA – Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and Attorney General Jeff Landry is encouraging Louisiana residents to participate in the day’s numerous events around the State.

“The number of drug-overdose deaths between 2019 and 2020 rose more rapidly in Louisiana than any other state,” said Attorney General Landry. “Prescription Drug Take Back Day gives every Louisianan the opportunity to make their communities safer by keeping drugs out of the wrong hands.”

Attorney General Landry’s Office has teamed up with several sheriff offices, police departments, fire departments, and area hospitals to help host drug take back events organized by the Drug Enforcement Agency. These efforts provide people avenues for safe and proper disposal of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.

“Our fight against the opioid epidemic must take a full commitment from the public,” added Attorney General Landry. “The DEA’s events this Saturday make it easy for all of us to participate.”

The complete list of DEA events with full addresses and partnering law enforcement agencies may be found at https://takebackday.dea.gov.

Attorney General Landry has also partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators to provide nearly 80 permanent prescription drug drop boxes – free of charge – to law enforcement agencies across 50 parishes in Louisiana.

The current list of those permanent drop boxes in our State may be found at www.EndTheEpidemicLA.org.

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St. John the Baptist Parish residents will have an opportunity to turn in expired and unused prescription medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 24 at 104 Ormond Boulevard in LaPlace.

Drug Court Program Director Albert “Ali” Burl III said this is the second time Take Back Day is being held in St. John. Locals are invited to drop off tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs.

Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs will not be accepted. The DEA stated that vaping devices and cartridges will be accepted at Take Back Day locations, as long as lithium batteries are removed.

Burl said Drug Take Back Day is mainly intended for expired or unused prescription medications. According to the DEA, studies indicate a majority of abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, making it essential to clear out unused medicine at home.

The local Drug Court office can be reached at 985-359-3315.

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St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office will participate in Take Back Day  on Saturday, April 24th from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

On the west bank, medications may be dropped off at the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office Sub Office Lobby located at 2631 Hwy 20 in Vacherie, LA 70090.

On the East bank medications will be accepted at St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office Headquarters Criminal Division Lobby located at 5800 Hwy 44 in Convent, LA 70723.

More information about the DEA’s Take Back Day can be found at deatakeback.com or by calling 800-882-9539. To find a location near you, visit here.