GONZALES — Approximately 41 pounds of prescription drugs were collected at the Gonzales Police Department for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 27.
The Drug Take Back is a response to the rise in drug overdoses in the United States. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reported more than 115 people die from overdosing on opioids every day.
It is also estimated the total economic burden of prescription opioid misuse in the nation alone is $78.5 billion a year, which includes cost of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment and criminal justice involvement as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Gonzales Police Department and Sun Street Centers have been participating in the National Drug Take Back for about eight years and host the event twice per year.
In addition, the Gonzales Police Department has a medication disposal drop box available year round.
