UMC Taking Part In Saturday's Medication 'Take-Back' Event

EL PASO, Texas – University Medical Center of El Paso's West Texas Regional Poison Control has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to host a medication take-back event on Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4325 Alberta.

The medication take-back event is a nationwide event occurring this weekend in cities throughout the United States and is for community members to have a safe place to dispose of their unwanted, unused and expired medications. All prescription drugs in pill form are accepted, no questions asked. No sharps, auto injectors, inhalers, liquids or illegal drugs will be accepted.

Salvador Baeza, Director of West Texas Regional Poison Control explained why this event is vital to our community. "A common source of prescription drug abuse in teenagers is access to a parent's or grandparent's medications. By removing these unwanted, unused and expired medications from the home, we are hoping to make homes safer for children," said Baeza.

University Medical Center of El Paso has been partnering with the DEA for over five years to host a bi-annual medication take-back event. University Medical Center is the only hospital in El Paso that actively participates and partners with the DEA for this type of event.

For additional information, call 915-534-3802 or visit www.dea.gov.