Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in partnership with state and local police departments, the RI Dept. of Elderly Affairs, and the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH), will provide the public an opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unneeded prescription drugs.
On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Attorney General, DEA, RI State Police, and local police departments will hold the 2nd National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at police stations across Rhode Island. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
“This initiative provides an opportunity for the public to safely surrender pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction,” said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. “Expired, unused, or unwanted controlled substances in our homes are a potential source of supply for the increasing abuse of pharmaceutical drugs in Rhode Island and crime related to the theft and distribution of pharmaceutical drugs.”
“Unfortunately, prescription drug abuse is our country’s fastest-growing drug problem. Prescription drug abuse is presenting significant new problems in the Northeast. Many Rhode Islanders are not aware that medicines that languish in medicine cabinets are susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” added Craig Stenning, Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals. “Studies show that a majority of 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."
“As an advocate for Rhode Island's older adult citizens, I strongly support the Prescription Drug Take-Back Day," added Director of Elderly Affairs Catherine Taylor. “This important program will help to reduce the serious problem of medication misuse among older adults; enhance their physical and emotional safety; and control the potential for exploitation of those individuals. I urge family members and caregivers to support our elders in getting to their local police station on April 30 to discard these unneeded, and possibly dangerous, medicines.
“Last September in New England, we recovered over 12 tons of unneeded and unwanted prescription medications. Removing these medications from our homes makes our families safer,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven Derr. “Many teens’ first drug use experience is a no-longer needed prescription that was left unused in a medicine cabinet. Take advantage of this program and rid your home of these potential poisons.”
The public can find a nearby collection site by visiting www.dea.gov, clicking on the “Got Drugs?” icon, and following the links to a database, where they enter their zip code.