Chief: Prescription Meds Can Kill

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28.

This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.  

The in cooperation with DEA will be accepting unwanted and unused prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.  These items may be dropped off in the training room located on the second floor at the Grafton Police Headquarters.

The following information may be found on DEA’s Office of Diversion Control website. 

Americans who participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Oct. 29, 2011 turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

When the results of the three prior take-back days are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart, in a prepared statement. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

She continued that "with the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine. They often flush them down the toilet or throw them away; both these methods are potential safety and health hazards.

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. 

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.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr. is Grafton's chief of police.