As part of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, local health representatives will be on hand tomorrow at the Friendship Heights Village community center (4433 S. Park Ave., Chevy Chase) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to take unwanted, unused or outdated prescription drugs.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration runs the event, which in April resulted in the collection of a record 276 tons of prescription medication from more than 5,000 sites for proper disposal.
The four DEA Drug Take-Back Days have resulted in a total removal of 1.5 million pounds, or 774 tons, of prescription drugs from circulation.
DEA Administration Michele Leonhart said the agency is still working on a uniform system for prescription drug disposal.
From the event website:
Our take-back events highlight the problems related to prescription drug abuse and give our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution. These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our state, federal, local, and tribal partners and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their efforts on behalf of the American people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says prescription drugs have become the primary contributor to the country’s increase in drug overdose rates.
Flickr photo by deathtiny42
