Milton, Fla - On Saturday October 24, the Santa Rosa and Escambia County Health Departments are encouraging the residents of both counties to participate in the National Drug Take Back Day coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This national emphasis provides the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This October’s event is the DEA’s 19^th nationwide event since its inception 10 years ago. 

Last fall, Americans turned in nearly 883,000 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 6,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 5,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA, along with its law enforcement partners, has now collected nearly 6,350 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications since the inception of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative in 2010. 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  

Below is a list of disposal boxes available in our communities: 

Locations and Times: 

Walgreens (24/7)   

• 6314 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola 
• 870 E. Cervantes St., Pensacola 
• 2237 W. 9 Mile Rd., Pensacola 
• 3909 Hwy. 90, Pace 
• 6506 Caroline St., Milton 
• 8220 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre   

CVS (24/7)  

• 6888 N. 9th Ave., Pensacola 
• 6501 Caroline St/Hwy 90. Milton  

Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday thru Friday   

• 5755 East Milton Road, Milton 
• 1322 College Parkway, Gulf Breeze 
• 8597 High School Blvd., Navarre 
• 4775 Pace Patriot Blvd., Pace 
• 3695 Highway 4, Jay  

To keep everyone safe, collection sites will follow local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations. Items not accepted at the drug take back sites include liquids, needles or sharps. Only pills or patches can be accepted. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. 

The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/where-and-how-dispose-unused-medicines. 

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 24^th Take Back Day event, go towww.DEATakeBack.com.  

About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.