GONZALES — Residents had the opportunity to clean out medicine cabinets and drawers last Saturday and bring unused and expired prescription medicines to the 13th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Gonzales Police Department and other law enforcement agencies around the country set up areas to receive the unwanted or outdated prescription drugs and prepare them for disposal.
“We had another great Drug Take-back event today,” said Gonzales Police Chief Keith Wise. “We collected seven burn boxes, approximately 150 pounds of drugs that will be turned over to the DEA for destruction.”
The drop off was for Schedule II to V controlled substance medications, over the counter medications, medicated liquids, lotions and creams and veterinary medications. Schedule I controlled substances (illegal street-type drugs), vitamins and dietary supplements, needles or sharps containers were not accepted at the free and anonymous service.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Dee Acosta, South County prevention coordinator for Sun Street Centers, was on hand to help Interim Chief Wise with the event.
“Prescription drug abuse is still the No. 1 killer of young adults 25 and younger,” Acosta said. “Getting unused prescription drugs out of the house, it takes the temptation away.”
Acosta added, “This is our sixth year in partnering with the community of Gonzales, twice a year. Ninety-one people a day in the United States die an opiates related death. We have to get these drugs off the streets.”
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines, flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, go to dea.gov or dontrushtoflush.org.
