The Katy ISD Police Department will be participating with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to collect dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription medications Oct. 24. The nationwide event has collected millions of pounds of unused prescriptions since it began about 19 years ago.

“Due to COVID-19 restrictions the Katy ISD Police Department will have a contactless, drive-thru disposal process where residents can safely drop off their unused medications,” said Katy ISD Police Chief Henry Gaw. 

The DEA established this nationwide program in order to reduce the abuse of prescription drugs. In 2018, the National Survey on Drug Use and health indicated that about 9.9 million Americans misused prescription drugs.

The take back day event is a means for residents to drop their old prescriptions off at the Mark L. Hopkins Law Enforcement Center at 20370 Franz Road in Katy between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 rather than having those items lying around. Area law enforcement officers have said abuse of prescription drugs is one of the leading causes of addiction and drug abuse in the greater Katy area.

Additionally, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, opioid use is the primary driver of overdose deaths in the state and from 2000 to 2016 the rate of opioid overdoses increased almost threefold from 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people. Opioids are one of the most commonly abused prescription drug types.

“Unknowingly, family medicine cabinets might be harboring medicines that are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse and theft,” Gaw said.

Katy ISD PD is just one of several points to drop off unwanted prescription drugs. Other regional locations include:

• Houston Community College
  1010 West Sam Houston Parkway, Houston
• Fort Bend ISD Police Department
  Fort Bend ISD Administration Building
  16431 Lexington Boulevard, Sugar land
• Harris County Sheriff’s Office
  23828 Tomball Parkway, Tomball
• Gateway Baptist Church
  2930 Rayford Road, Spring

NOTE: The list of participating locations is still in development and more area locations are being added over time according to the DEA’s website. To search for additional locations, visit this link.