STATE OF ADDICTION: US Attorney, DEA, police discuss drug take-back initiative
The police departments of Miami-Dade, Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Miami Shores, Miami and Hollywood are all participating.
"In collaborative efforts with the DEA regarding the National Take Back Initiative, the Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office will be the venue for a one-day opportunity for persons to dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs", Zwicke said.
"In April, during our last Drug Take-Back event, we collected more than 170 pounds of unwanted medications".
Created in 2010, the DEA's National Take Back Day promotes a safe, convenient and responsible means for individuals to dispose of prescription drugs. He figures more than a 1,000 pounds of unwanted or expired prescription drugs will be taken to his police department this year alone, including a couple of hundred pounds on Saturday. Law enforcement is asking people to NOT drop off liquids or needles, just pills and patches. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the USA are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs, according to the release. "The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked", her office said. "More people start down the path of addiction through the misuse of opioid prescription drugs than any other substance".
In September, PSP and DDAP announced the addition of 65 permanent prescription drug take-back boxes inside State Police stations in Pennsylvania that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In April, national Take Back events resulted in the collection of 900,000 pounds of prescription drugs in almost 5,500 DEA-operated sites.
"Oftentimes teens first use prescription painkillers by stealing the pills from a family member's medicine cabinet", Rutledge said.
"Flushing them down the toilet poses potential health concerns".