For Immediate Release: 9/17/2012 2:58 pm
Worcester, MA (September 17, 2012) - The Worcester Division of Public Health, Leicester Health Department and Shrewsbury Health Department will be hosting "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" on Saturday, September 29th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the following locations:
The Take-Back Program will give the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Residents are encouraged to drop off any and all unused prescription and over-the-counter medications and are being asked to blacken out or remove personal information on any pill bottles – please leave the name of the medication if possible. If the pills are not in bottles, medication should be placed in a sealed plastic bag. This service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.
In addition to these events, permanent prescription drug take-back kiosks are located at both the Holden Police Department and the Millbury Police Department.
On April 28, 2012, citizens turned in a record-breaking 552,161 pounds (276 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,659 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and US territories. When the results of the four Take-Back Days to date are combined, the DEA and its state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners have removed over 1.5 million pounds (774 tons) of medication from circulation.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the US are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information contact the Worcester Division of Public Health at (508) 799-1762. Visit http://www.DEA.gov for additional collection site information.
