Don't Be The Dealer: Participate in Drug "Take Back" Day
Locations now set for one day event to drop off unused prescription drugs
You may think that opioid prescription from your dental surgery shoved to the back of a shelf in your bathroom isn't hurting anyone. Who cares if grandpa's oxycodone from his back operation is still in the drawer next to the sink?
According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs and the majority came from from family and friends, often stolen from a home medicine cabinet.
Most addicts get their drugs from family and friends
Stopping people from getting addicted to opioids is impetus behind the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
This year it's on Saturday, April 27, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
National Take-Back Day is described as a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs, preventing drug addiction and even overdose deaths. According to the website Get Smart About Drugs :
- 900,000+ pounds : the amount of unused or expired prescription medication taken in on last year's Take Back Day
- 10.9 million pounds : the total amount of prescription drugs collected by the DEA since the fall of 2010
Organizers are just out with the list of participating take-back centers -- click here , plug in your zip code and they'll give you plenty of nearby options. Can't make it to the one-day event? Folks in Pennsylvania can click here to search for the closest permanent drop off locations.