Monday, April 25, 2011

Residents asked to bring old prescription drugs to take-back events Saturday

PRESS RELEASE:

In an effort to combat prescription drug abuse, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will be part of the nation-wide Prescription Drug Take Back event Saturday.

At these events, residents can clean out their medicine cabinets and bring in old and unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal. The Prescription Take Backs will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the following Kansas City locations:

* 215 N.E. Englewood (Hy-Vee parking lot)
* 3215 Main St. (MainCor parking lot)
* 633 E. 63rd St. (National Council on Alcoholism parking lot)
* 5301 E. 27th St. (East Patrol Division Station parking lot)
* 9430 Blue Ridge Blvd. (Northwest corner of Walgreen’s Parking lot)

Partnering with the DEA, Kansas City Police will be on hand to collect prescription and over-the-counter pills, liquids, or other controlled substances in a safe, legal manner. The public can turn in the drugs anonymously and with no questions asked.

More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. And the Partnership for a Drug Free America reports that 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time every day. Most of those drugs come from the medicine cabinet of family or friends. The Prescription Drug Take Back reduces the chance of that happening to a young person you may know. The Take Back also keeps prescription drugs from contaminating water sources.