NSU Police Dept. partners with Tahlequah Best for National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

(Tahlequah, Okla.)-- OnSept. 26from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Northeastern State Police Department, in conjunction with Tahlequah Bringing Everyones Strengths Together (BEST) Community Coalition and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will give the public the opportunity to bring unused prescription pills to a safe, designated disposal site.

Pills can be brought to the University Center circle drive at 612 N. Grand Ave., Tahlequah. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps; only pills and patches will be accepted.The service is free and anonymous; no questions asked.

This event will mark the tenth opportunity in five years that NSUPD has partnered with Tahlequah BEST to collect pills. The event aims to prevent pill abuse and theft by giving the community the opportunity to safely rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Last September, Americans turned in 309 tons, which is over 617,000 pounds, of prescription drugs at nearly 5,500 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,000 of its state and local law enforcement partners. When those results are combined with what was collected in its eight previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 4.8 million poundsmore than 2,400 tonsof pills.

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, 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 medicinesflushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trashboth pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about theSept. 26Take-Back Day event contact NSUPD at 918-458-2111.

Published: 2015-09-22 15:51:16.120000