Do you have prescription drugs in your medicine cabinet that you no longer use? You can dispose of them at a number of local drop off locations on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, to be held on Sept. 26, addresses a vital public safety and public health issue, according to a press release from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse,” states the press release.
Prescription drug abuse and the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs are increasing at alarming rates, according to the press release. Studies show that abused prescription drugs are often obtained from family and friends, and many times taken from household medicine cabinets.
Many people do not know how to properly dispose of unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are both potential safety and health hazards.
“Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is a great opportunity for folks around the country to help reduce the threat,” said DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg in the statement. “Please clean out your medicine cabinet and make your home safe from drug theft and abuse.”
According to the DEA, during the nine previous nationwide drug take-back events from 2010-2014, 4,823,251 pounds of drugs were collected.
Locally, drug take-back events are scheduled on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to a press release sent by the town of Old Orchard Beach.
The service is anonymous and free, and identifying information should be removed from labels, according to the press release.
Prescription drugs, as well as over-the-counter medications, veterinary pills, drops and ointments can be safely disposed of at the following locations:
BIDDEFORD: Public Works Center, Walmart
SACO: Community Center
OLD ORCHARD BEACH: Police Station
LYMAN: Goodwins Mills Fire Station
KENNEBUNK: Hannaford Supermarket
KENNEBUNKPORT: Police Station
BUXTON: Rite Aid Pharmacy, Hannaford Supermarket
WATERBORO: Hannaford Supermarket
For information on other locations, go to www.dea. gov.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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