Drug Take Back Initiative Seeks to Prevent Pill Abuse and Theft

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the , and the Tiverton Prevention Coalition, today announced a prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. The DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tiverton Police Station on Industrial Way. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

“Prescription drug abuse is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, and take-back events like this one are an indispensable tool for reducing the threat that the diversion and abuse of these drugs pose to public health,” said Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske. “The Federal/state/and local collaboration represented in this initiative is key in our national efforts to reduce pharmaceutical drug diversion and abuse.”

Many Americans are not aware that medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

70% of people age 12 and older who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from relatives and friends. “This program offers a safe way for the people to dispose of expired or unwanted prescriptions and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of this growing problem” according to Rebecca Elwell, coordinator of the Tiverton Prevention Coalition.

Similar events are being held in Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Little Compton and Jamestown.

For more information about what parents can do to safe guard their teens against medication abuse contact rebecca@tivertonprevention.org 

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/