Thursday, October 6, 2016

VAN BUREN COUNTY SHERIFF’S RESERVE OFFICERS TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS OCTOBER 22, 2016 AT THE KEOSAUQUA SENIOR CENTER

On Saturday, October 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Reserve Officers, the SAFE Coalition, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 12th opportunity in six years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your pills for disposal to the Keosauqua Senior Center at 801 Front Street, Keosauqua, IA 52565.  The DEA cannot accept liquids or inhalers or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,200 of its state and local law enforcement partners.  Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA, and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 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 poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including 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 October 22, 2016 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website at http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html or the SAFE Coalition Website at www.vbsafecoalition.com or call 319-293-6412.

No comments: