Prescription drug abuse is at its lowest rate since 2002, according to new findings from the national Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. And authorities want to keep it that way.
To make sure unused drugs don't fall into the wrong hands, the Drug Enforcement Administration encourages the public to participate in the fifth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This Saturday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tampa Bay residents can drop off leftover and expired meds at these locations:
Hernando County
- Walmart Supercenter, 7305 Broad St., Brooksville
Hillsborough County
- Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
- Sweetbay Supermarket, 2535 S.R. 60, Valrico
- Sweetbay Supermarket, 5320 Ehrlich Road, Tampa
- Sweetbay Supermarket, 2525 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Manatee County
- New College of Florida Police Department, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota
- Holmes Beach Police Department, 5801 Marina Drive, Bradenton Beach
Pinellas County
- Walgreens, 605 South Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs
- St. Petersburg Police Department, 1300 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg
- Sweetbay Supermarket, 2460 East Bay Drive, Largo
- Dolphin Village Shopping Center, near Publix, 4655 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach
- Westfield Countryside Mall, northeast parking lot in front of Lifestyle Family Fitness, 27001 U.S. Highway 19 N, Clearwater
- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo
- Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, North District Station, 737 Louden Ave., Dunedin
- Walgreens, 5701 22nd Ave. S, Gulfport
- Walgreens, 7400 66th St., Pinellas Park
Pasco County
- Pasco Sheriff's Office, Gulf View Square Mall parking lot, 9409 U.S. Highway 19, Port Richey
- Pasco Sheriff's Office, Shops at Wiregrass parking garage, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
- Zephyrhills Police Department, 6118 Eighth St., Zephyrhills
Polk County
- Haines City Police Department, 35400 Highway 27 N, Haines City
- Auburndale Police Department, 2 Bobby Green Plaza, Auburndale
- Lake Wales Police Department, 133 E Tillman Ave., Lake Wales
- Lakeland Police Department, 219 N Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland
- Winter Haven Police Department, 125 N Lake Silver Drive, Winter Haven
- Lake Alfred Police Department, 190 N Seminole Ave., Lake Alfred
Sarasota County
- Sarasota County Sheriff's Office District 4, 4531 S.R. 776, Venice
- Sarasota County Sheriff's Office District 1, 2071 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
- Sarasota Police Department, 2099 Adams Lane, Sarasota
- North Port Police Department permanent drop box, 4980 City Hall Blvd., North Port
