Durango Police Department is participating in National Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 23 at the Police Substation in Three Springs.

Most prescription drugs that are abused are obtained by friends and family, according to a news release about the upcoming Drug Take Back Day released by the city of Durango.

The release says it is important to clean out medicine cabinets and safely dispose of unneeded medications to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, and the Durango Police Department is providing the opportunity to do just that.

The police department will accept tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs on Oct. 23, although liquids, syringes and illegal drugs will not be accepted.

Oct. 23 is the second National Drug Take Back Day of the year, the first was April 24.

In April, Durango police accepted nearly 120 pounds of unwanted or unneeded medications, which set a local record for expired, unwanted and unused prescription medications, according to the city.

During a visit earlier this month to Durango, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said there should probably be more than just two days dedicated to raising awareness about prescription medication abuse.

“It’s doubly dangerous right now because once people get addicted to those pills they might think, ‘Oh, I can’t get them from the health care system’ – we’ve done a good job on the supply side trying to shut down that diversion – but now, as law enforcement can tell you, they’re on the street,” Weiser said.

cburney@durangoherald.com