Authorities Push For Participation In National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
By Kristen Johanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The nation is in the midst of one of the worst opiate abuse epidemics in history.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is working with police departments here and across the United States, pushing for people to participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Saturday to dispose of unused medication.
"This is a national event and will be occurring across the country."
Patrick Trainor is Special Agent at the Drug Enforcement Administration in Philadelphia and says this is their 11th year of taking unwanted, unused or expired drugs at local fire or police stations.
"Over the past 10 previous events, we have actually collected over 5.5 million pounds of prescription medicines, so it's been a remarkably successful event."
He says nearly 700 people died last year of drug overdoses, and the number keeps climbing.
"It's very common for people who use and abuse heroin to start by using prescription drugs like Percocet, and Oxycontin."
Hoping this effort will combat the overwhelming number of those addicted.
"It's a safe and effective way to get rid of the medicine without it being flushed it down our toilets or ending up in our landfills."
For more information on where to drop off your unwanted medications, click here.
