Saturday: Prescription Take Back Day could save a life

Jacksonville, Fl — We all have unused or expired prescriptions in our home, perhaps within reach of young children or curious teenagers.

There is a safe, environmentally-friendly way to dispose of these drugs this Saturday, Prescription Take Back Day.

Florida Poison Control will host drop-offs at four locations in Duval County, and several other sites around Northeast Florida, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

“The bottom line is, if you’re not using it, you don’t need it. It’s expired, we need to get it out of your house. And most importantly, we want it disposed of safely,” Mike McCormick with Florida Poison Control said.

To find a Prescription Take Back location nearest you, including drop-offs in Southeast Georgia, click here.

At UF Health North, Florida Poison Information Center, and Duval Health Department free Narcan will be given out. Narcan reverses opioid overdoses and saves lives.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently released a report on unintentional pediatric poisonings, finding that 98 children under the age of 5 died from poisonings in 2022. That’s a 66% increase from 2021.

The report found increased injuries from poisonings involving acetaminophen and ibuprofen from 2021 to 2022.

LISTEN: Mike McCormick with Florida Poison Control on Jacksonville’s Morning News