Sunday, April 10, 2011

Dispose of those unwanted prescriptions


The Beach City, Brewster, Navarre and Wilmot police departments and the Drug Enforcement Administration will be collecting unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 30, at the Brewster Fire Department at 110 E. Main St.

The service is free and anonymous, with no questions being asked.

This will give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by bringing the potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescriptions to the fire station. This collection addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that are kept in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.

According to information provided, studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends. It has been suggested that unwanted medicines can be flushed down the toilet or thrown into the trash, both posing potential safety and health hazards.

Last fall, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an ultimate user of controlled-substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized to accept and dispose of the drugs in a proper manner. The DEA is drafting regulations to implement the act.

In September 2010, Americans disposed of 242.000 pounds, or 121 tons, of prescription drugs at more than 4,000 sites operated by the DEA and 3,0000 state and law-enforcement partners.

Read More

http://www.indeonline.com/news/x481364821/Dispose-of-those-unwanted-prescriptions

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