TAYLOR — With National Prescription Drug Take Back Day being held around the country in late October, the Police Department would like to remind the public that the department runs an ongoing drug dropoff in its lobby, 23515 Goddard Road.
Anyone can drop off prescription drugs at that location at any time during the year, no questions asked, Acting Chief John Blair said.
In April, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and more than 4,200 of its law enforcement and community partners collected more unused prescription drugs than at any of the 12 previous National Prescription Drug Take Back Day events. That event brought in 900,386 pounds — 450 tons — at almost 5,500 sites nationwide.
Marking the 13th National Prescription Take Back Day since September 2010, these events have altogether collected 8.1 million pounds (4,052 tons) of prescription drugs.
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative addresses a public safety and public health issue. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs.
The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.
In the more than two years since new regulations made the disposal of controlled prescription drugs easier for patients and their caregivers, law enforcement agencies, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics have begun continuous collection of these medications.