YPD and DEA partner in National Take Back Initiative

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Do you have unused or expired prescription medications you need to get rid of? If so, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are partnering to host the biannual National Take Back Initiative this Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Residents have the opportunity to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired medications completely free and anonymously at YPD headquarters. The service will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1500 S. 1st Avenue.

“All you got to do is come by the station, drive up—you don't even have to get out of your car,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin of the Yuma Police Department. “We’ll be waiting there and we’ll take everything that you have.”

It is important to note that YPD will not accept syringes, sharps, liquid products, or illegal drugs “due to the hazardous conditions they pose during the disposal process.”

This initiative, a familiar fixture in Yuma County, is designed to prevent the misuse of prescription drugs and help combat addiction. Nationwide, Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States.

Beyond clearing space in your medicine cabinets, the event also helps keep residents safe from potential theft. Sgt. Franklin noted that for "winter visitors" preparing to return home for the summer, leaving drugs behind creates a risk.

“Somebody breaks in they’re gonna get their hands on it,” Franklin said. “These are narcotics. We don’t want them to get into the wrong hands.”

The San Luis Police Department will also be hosting a take-back event this Saturday. If you cannot make it to either location, local pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS offer year-round kiosks to dispose of medication properly.