The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Program returns to the United States this year on October 29. The event allows people to bring in their unused, unwanted prescription drugs and dispose of them in a safe and secure manner. This ensures that the drugs won’t get into the wrong hands, so consumers can rest easy. Manhattan’s District Attorney Cy Vance is concerned about New York City’s recent rise in prescription drug abuse, and feels the program will help make the city safer. He joined federal employees in announcing the event for 2011–it’s the third year the take-back has been held.
Gil Kerlikowske of the White House office’s National Drug Control Policy spoke out about the urgent need for the event all across the country. “Drug overdoses are killing more people in this country than car crashes,” he reminded citizens. “That means it’s the number one cause of accidental death. That means it’s ahead of gunshot wounds and ahead of car crashes, and these are mostly driven by prescription drugs, drugs coming out of the medicine cabinet.”
Hawaii is already setting up sites for residents to bring their unwanted prescription medication, and also plans to take part in the National Prescription Drug Take-back Program on the 29th. Citizens should know that the program is completely anonymous, and all prescriptions in solid form (pills, caplets, tablets, etc.) will be accepted. Last year, over 70% of the prescription drugs turned in at the event were narcotics and painkillers. These drugs are commonly abused, so the appropriate method of disposal is necessary. Prescriptions flushed down the toilet have not been properly disposed of, authorities warn. The breakdown of the medications could harm water supplies that affect both humans and water-based ecosystems.
Indiana’s Montgomery County hosted its own take-back event the first weekend in October, bringing 173 vehicles through to drop off unused prescriptions. It was a record-breaking number for the county’s event. They received almost 4,000 pills of hydrocodone and Xanax. The total haul (over 5,200 pills) was nearly four barrels of drugs.
“Over 5,200 tablets of the most abused substances like OxyContin and Percocet were collected,” said Mandy Fox, of drug disposal firm Nugenesis. “Lots of discontinued and recalled prescriptions were also turned in and that is always good to see.”
The special day this month is not the only drug abuse awareness event. “This year’s DEA, National Take-Back Event for prescription drugs on October 29, 2011 will also coincide with DEA’s Red Ribbon Week, which is a week-long initiative to raise awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs facing our community,” said DEA Special-Agent-in-Charge Robin Dinlocker.
