El Paso DEA collects more than 5 tons of prescription drugs during ‘Take Back Day’

The El Paso DEA Division collected 10,975 pounds of drugs on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 28.

The El Paso DEA Division includes all of New Mexico and goes as far East in Texas as Midland.

In the Texas portion of the division 3,043 pounds were collected, and 7,932 pounds were collected in New Mexico.

“Five and a half tons was a great number for us. That was actually a ton more than we collected in April 2017,” said Heather McMurry, the Diversion Program Manager for the El Paso DEA Division. “That means more and more people are now aware of what’s going on with the Opiate crisis. They’re aware that they need to get the medications out of their house to protect their children.”

The national event is hosted by several law enforcement agencies across the country as a way to help combat the Opioid epidemic.

The Center for Disease Control reports 2,588 people died from drug overdoses in Texas in 2015.

“In the El Paso Division, it’s not as prevalent as when you hear the stories out in the Midwest and down South in Florida,” McMurry said.

McMurry said she’s concerned about the crisis strengthening in the region. Physicians, pharmacies, veterinarians all have to report to the DEA if there is a theft in their office. She said in the El Paso Division, those thefts doubled between 2015 and 2016.

“That’s showing me the problem is increasing here when you start to see employees taking something,” McMurry said.

El Paso County is currently considering whether it will follow in the footsteps of other counties across Texas to join a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies for their alleged role in contributing to the so-called opioid epidemic gripping the US.

Two weeks ago representatives with the Houston-based Gallagher Law Firm gave county commissioners a presentation about how the opioid epidemic is affecting the state.

County Judge Ruben Vogt said a vote from Commissioners Court could come within the next couple of weeks.

“This is something that is huge across the United States, it’s an epidemic. El Paso County is not immune to that,” Vogt said. “It’s just a matter of determining what kind of situation we have on our hands.”

Vogt said four different law firms have reached out to the County. He said the County Attorney’s office is reviewing the proposals.