Council Tackles Issue Of Disposing Outdated Prescription Meds
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - City Council today looks at the vexing issue of how to dispose of outdated prescription drugs. And the lawmakers are expecting to hear from a grieving father, whose teenage son died after ingesting outdated painkillers.
Testifying before council will be Bernie Strain, whose 17-year old son Timothy suffered a severe burn on his hand in the summer of 2009. Bernie Strain says his son was taking prescription painkillers but his girlfriend's mother offered him more from her medicine cabinet:
"That mixture of those drugs was fatal to my son."
Now Bernie Strain wants Council to create a 24-7 program where anyone can dispose old medications at any time:
"Hopefully the program that we start in Philadelphia would be a model for the rest of the country."
And Strain has this message for parents:
"Don't think it cannot be your child. It could very easily be your child."
Reported by Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio
