About 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time each day in the U.S., reported the Partnership for a Drug Free America.
That’s one reason the federal Drug Enforcement Administration is partnering with law enforcement agencies and community groups to urge citizens to dispose of their expired and unused prescription drugs.
The unwanted prescription drugs will be accepted during a National Take Back Initiative from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday sponsored by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 940 New Salem Highway and at Reeves-Sain drug store at 1301 Memorial Blvd. sponsored by Murfreesboro Police and the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Rutherford County.
DEA reported unwanted prescription medications are a public safety issue because the medicines may lead to accidental poisoning, overdose and abuse.
In a fact sheet, DEA reported:
• Prescription drugs may be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision.
• Non-medical use of prescription drugs ranks second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug abuse in the U.S.
• The majority of teens abusing prescription drugs obtained the drugs from family and friends with the home medicine cabinet a primary source.
• Unused drugs thrown in the trash in their bottles can be retrieved and abused or illegally sold. Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs can save lives. |
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!