In the most successful event in Rhode Island since its inception in 2010, Attorney General Kilmartin announced that citizens turned in 2,262 pounds of pharmaceuticals during last Saturday's Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
"The response to this event was tremendous," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "The public understands the dangers of having expired and unused prescription medications lying around in their homes, at risk for abuse and misuse."
Kilmartin also credited increased participation with more than 40 locations statewide supported by 36 police departments and the City of Providence. "Each Take Back Day has been more successful than the one previous, which is due in great part to law enforcement participation, offering the public more drop off locations. Prescription drug abuse is a public health and a public safety issue. This growing epidemic is now the number one cause of accidental death in Rhode Island."
In the four Prescription Drug Take Back events Rhode Island has participated in, citizens have turned in approximately 5,400 pounds of expired and unused prescription medications.