NEW: Prescription Drug Take Back Day Next Saturday
Friday, April 20, 2012
After success last year in removing dangerous prescription drugs from Rhode Island homes, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin has announced another Prescription Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, April 28, 2012.
On April 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Office of Attorney General, the US Dept. of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, the Rhode Island State Police, the City of Providence and 35 police departments statewide will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
The AG's office reccomends bringmedications for safe and secure disposal to any of 43 collection sites across Rhode Island (for a complete list, please see attached document or visit www.dea.gov or www.riag.ri.gov.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn addition to the drop off location at the Providence Police Department at 325 Washington Street, the City of Providence and Providence Police are also accepting prescription drugs at four Walgreens locations throughout the City: 533 Elmwood Ave., 1 Pocasset Ave., 354 Admiral Street, and 1140 North Main Street.
West Warwick also is holding a drop off location at the West Warwick Youth Center, located at 1162 Main Street, in addition to accepting prescription drugs at the West Warwick Police station on Victory Highway.
“I am pleased that law enforcement agencies across the state are actively supporting the Prescription Drug Take Back program,” said Attorney General Kilmartin. “This support underscores the scope of the growing problem of prescription drug abuse in Rhode Island and the need to address it. When not taken correctly or abused, prescription drugs are just as dangerous, if not more, than other controlled substances, and can be as easy to get as opening the home medicine cabinet.”
Prescription drug abuse is quickly becoming a major epidemic in Rhode Island and across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more Rhode Islanders die from accidental prescription drug overdose than any other cause of death. And the number of individuals - especially teenagers - who abuse prescription medication is growing.
In 2011, Rhode Islanders turned in more than 3,100 pounds of outdated and unused prescription medications as part of the Prescription Drug Take Back Days held in April and October. Nationally, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds - 188.5 tons - of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites during the last Take Back Day, and nearly 500 tons of pill since the program began in 2010.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” said Attorney General Kilmartin. “Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, particularly from the home medicine cabinet. Removing dangerous medication from homes is another way to safeguard our children and aging population.”
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines - flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash - both pose potential safety and health hazards.
