Remember when your dentist sent you home with a prescription for pain medication? He said to fill it before the pain hit -- just in case. The little container of capsules is probably still in the medicine cabinet.
The deadliest drug problem in the United States is prescription painkillers. According to a national survey of drug use and health, more than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. They also estimate that every day 2500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Highly addictive painkillers are killing more people in the United States than heroin and cocaine combined. Demand for drugs is also fostering increased crime. Home invasion and theft of drugs have affected our own neighborhood in the recent past.
Simply flushing chemicals, such as those in prescription drugs, down drains or toilets poses problems to the water treatment processes. Putting them in the trash is often not a safe way to dispose of them either.
Addressing these problems, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies has scheduled a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.
The Utah County Sheriff's Department has arranged to operate a collection site where people can drop off their unneeded prescription drugs. They will be disposed of properly. There are quite a few locations around the County where you can drop off medications; the closest one to our community is at Macey's Grocery Store at 1400 N State Street, here in Provo.
Now is the time to look through your medicine cabinets and clear out any expired or unneeded drugs. Spread the word to your friends and neighbors. You can find additional sites for drop off at the DEA website.
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