Plano residents had the opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets on Saturday, April 27, as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted its National Prescription Drug Take Back event. The Plano Texas Police Department, in collaboration with the DEA, provided local drop-off sites for community members to safely dispose of their expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceuticals.

In efforts to reduce the risk of pill abuse and theft, the initiative offered a secure way for individuals to quickly get rid of potentially dangerous controlled substances without a hassle. Plano's participation in the program allowed residents to hand over their medicines anonymously and free of charge.

The drop-off sites were set up at various locations in the area, including Plano Senior High School and three other high schools. From 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, people could drive up and safely dispose of their medications. Some items, however, were excluded from the collection, such as intra-venous solutions, injectables, inhalers, and needles, as well as illicit substances like marijuana or methamphetamines.

Plano Police encouraged the community to take advantage of this initiative, emphasizing the environmental and health risks related to improper disposal of medications like flushing them down the toilet. The Plano Police Department has hosted these events before and continues to be a local force against the prescription drug abuse epidemic. Officials hope to highly encourage others to participate in similar future events for the betterment of public safety and health.