East Providence Police To Host Drug Take Back Day

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — East Providence police will take part in Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30.

The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while educating the public about the dangers of abusing medication.

"Medicines that languish in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse, and theft," said East Providence Prevention Coalition Coordinator Madeline Marlow. "Rates of prescription drug misuse are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs."

Unwanted prescription drugs may be dropped off at the police station on April 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

At last year’s event, the DEA collected a large amount of expired, unwanted, and unused prescription medications, with the nation’s public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs, with 128 pounds being collected right here in East Providence, police said.

Drug Take Back Day is a partnership between the East Providence Police Department, the DEA, Gosnold and the Prevention Partnership.