The First State is planning to take thousands of pounds of drugs off the streets this weekend.
The state is opening more than two dozen collection sites around Delaware this Saturday where you can dispose of prescription drugs.
Delaware’s Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf said many drug addicts tell her they got started by stealing prescription drugs from a family member.
“And they just started to experiment with the prescriptions that weren’t intended for them and then they ended up with addiction,” she said.
Opioid overdose deaths in the state are on the rise. Delaware’s Medical Examiner’s Office recorded 228 opioid-related overdose deaths in the state last year.
Landgraf said the First State has the second highest rate of opioid prescriptions per-capita in the United States.
“We overprescribe opiates more than any other countries combined,” she said.
The state collected 7,684 pounds of prescription drugs during its last take-back day in April.
No identification is required to drop off drugs and no questions will be asked.
Collection Sites:
Other permanent collection sites:
New Castle County
Wilmington Police Department - 300 N. Walnut St., Wilmington, DE 19801
Kent County
Dover Police Department - 400 S. Queen St., Dover, DE 19904
Harrington Police Department - 20 Mechanic St., Harrington, DE 19952
Smyrna Police Department - 325 W. Glenwood Ave., Smyrna, DE 19977
Sussex County
Georgetown Police Department - 335 N. Race St., Georgetown, DE 19947
Greenwood Police Department - 100 W. Market St., Greenwood, DE 19950
Delmar Police Department - 400 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Delmar, MD 21875
Since 2010, Delaware’s Drug Take-Back events have collected 59,686 pounds of drugs.
