DEA Announces 10th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
EPIC has partnered with local police departments and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to host the 10th Prescription Drug Take Back Event. These events are a great way to safely dispose of unwanted, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs. DEA announced that the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back will take place September 26th from 10 am-2 pm. People may drop any unwanted medications off with the Cape Girardeau City Police on this date at the West Park Mall in the parking lot near Steak and Shake and in Jackson, medications may be dropped off with the Jackson City Police at the police/fire station in Jackson.
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 U.S. 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.