Saturday April 26th is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Posted by azdrugrehabctr on April 25, 2014 under Prescription Drugs | Comments are off for this article

Why is it important that unused prescriptions be properly disposed of?

Unwanted, unused, and unmonitored medications can be dangerous when left around the house. These drugs are susceptible to misuse by a teenager or accidental use by a young child. Many who have children or grandchildren in their house are especially concerned about the security of their medications. Others are worried that medications that are flushed or otherwise improperly disposed of will end up damaging the environment and the water supply.

Should I be concerned about the teens in my family taking my medications?

It’s better to be safe than sorry. Prescription drug abuse has been declared an epidemic in the United States. Experts say teens and many adults think prescription drugs are safer than other illicit drugs because the pills were prescribed by a physician and came from a pharmacy, but prescription pills can be just as deadly as illegal drugs.

A 2010 study found that more than 50% of teenagers who took prescription drugs said they obtained their pills from the family’s medicine cabinet, according to the DEA. “More than 70% of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or a relative,” said R. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Do these take-back events really make a difference?

Two years ago, the DEA held the first National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, where drugs could be turned in anonymously to law-enforcement offices across the country. Six other take-back days have occurred since then, and the DEA reports that more than 1,000 tons of prescription medications have been collected for disposal.

According to the trends, each take-back event is gaining more traction, leading to more collections each time. Any pill handed over to authorities is one fewer pill on the street.

Where can I go to take back my unused medications?

Click here to find a collection site near you.