This Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
Press release:
The 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which was initiated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to reduce the availability of prescription medication in our communities and to reduce the amount which ends up in our water systems, is scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 26, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Citizens can turn in their unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.
In the previous nine Drug Take-Back events nationwide from 2010-2014, 4,823,251 pounds, or 2,411 tons of drugs were collected.
The locations in Genesee County that will be accepting medication for safe disposal are:
1) The Le Roy Police Department located at 3 W. Main St. in the Village of Le Roy;
2) The Batavia Police Department located at 10 W. Main St., in the City of Batavia, in the rear parking lot;
3) The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, which is accepting medications at the Pembroke Town Hall located at routes 5 and 77.
For further information and locations outside of Genesee County please check the DEA Web site at WWW.DEA.GOV
