News
National Prescription drug take back initiative
Tuesday, 08 May 2012 by Keith Bahlmann
The DEA has scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The Morgan's Police Resort Police Department will be participating in the "National Prescription Drug Take Back Day," as there will be an Officer at the Public Safety Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 28 for you to drop off your unwanted and unused prescription drugs. Help spread the word and take advantage of this venue.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
DEA in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States conducted National Prescription Drug Take Back Days on September 25, 2010, April 25, 2011, and October 29, 2011. Nearly, 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in these events, collecting more than 309 tons of pills.
Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the American Association of Poison Control Centers; the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America; D.A.R.E. America; the Federation of State Medical Boards; the U. S. Health Resources and Services Administration; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the National District Attorneys Association; the National Sheriffs Association; and the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov , clicking on the "Got Drugs?" icon, and following the links to a database, where they enter their zip code.
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