Drug Take-Back Event Set for Oct. 29 in Lakewood

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.

And, each day, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time.

The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day slated for Oct. 29 hopes to counter the trend. 

The is one of several drop-off spots in Cuyahoga County.

“It’s simple,” said Lakewood police Capt. Ed Hasing. “From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29, anyone with prescription medication that they want to get rid of, they can bring them to the Lakewood Police station."

The drugs will be packaged, and collected by the West Shore Drug Task Force, which will dispose of them.

Hassing said that prescription drugs have a shelf-life and shouldn’t be flushed down the drain because it may enter the water supply.

“Prescription drugs are a fad with teenagers,” he said. “They see what grandma and grandpa have, and mom and dad, have in the medicine cabinet. Kids abuse or overdose on this stuff.

“It’s not a good idea to keep this stuff around the house.”

The program is a part of a US Drug Enforcement effort to take the drugs off the streets. This is the second drug take-back of the year. So far, the national initiative has taken more than 209 tons of prescription drugs off the street.

It’s a good program,” said Hassing.

Fore more information, call the police department at 216-521-6773, or visit the program website.