Across U.S., more than 1,000 tons of prescription drugs collected in last 5 years
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 26, 2013) – Kentucky will again take part in a national prescription drug take-back program to safely dispose of unused, unneeded or expired medications.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday at locations throughout the state. The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked of people dropping off medications.
“My administration has made reducing prescription drug abuse a priority, and while we’ve made significant advances, the effects of this addiction are simply too devastating to become complacent,” Gov. Beshear said. “Medications, once they are no longer needed for their prescribed purposes, should be disposed of properly to reduce their risk of being diverted and abused.”
The Take-Back Day addresses vital public safety and public health issues: medicines left in home cabinets are susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse, and studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, the initiative creates a safe, environmentally conscientious way to dispose of medications once they are no longer needed, since flushing the drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.
In total, the five previous DEA Take-Back events have removed more than 2 million pounds, or 1,018 tons, of prescription medications from circulation.
To find a collection site near them, residents can visit: deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.
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