Last fall Americans turned in 456 tons (912,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,300 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 14 previous Take Back Events, DEA and its partners have taken in more that 9 million pounds--more than 4,500 tons--of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisoning's and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the ;majority of misused an abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines--flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash--both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 28th Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com or contact Officer W.D. Shular Jr. at Longwood Police Department 434-395-2091.