The Special Investigations Division (SID) of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety announces the installation of a MedReturn Drug Collection Unit at their Albuquerque office. “In light of the on-going need of the citizens to have a legal and environmentally safe place to dispose of unwanted prescription medications, we decided that this is a service we could offer to the public, and that our office complex would be a good location for it,” said Bill Hubbard, Director of SID.

First load of pills headed to the incinerator!

In the past, collection of such drugs occurred only sporadically in the state, on specially announced dates which were sometimes only once a year. “That was unacceptable,” Hubbard said. “That leads to a temptation to put those drugs in the trash or flush them. We don’t want all of this in the water supply or the landfill.” Therefore, the idea was developed to offer safe collection of such drugs throughout the year.

The MedReturn collection box, was purchased commercially (www.medreturn.com) and recently installed in the lobby of the Special Investigations Division office, 6301 Indian School Road NE, Suite 310, in Albuquerque. That office, which houses the Concealed Handgun Carry permitting unit, was a logical choice for the collection site, due to its central location, staffing, and regular weekday business hours, according to Hubbard. The collected drugs will be incinerated in accordance with approval of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

An update to the NMDPS website (www.dps.nm.org) will be forthcoming, which will continuously remind citizens of the availability of the MedReturn unit, its location, and hours.