Let Troopers Dispose of Unwanted Prescription Drugs National Drug Take Back Day, September 26, 2015
(Pikesville, MD) – The Maryland State Police in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration are asking citizens dispose of unwanted prescription drugs during the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, September 26, 2015 from 10:00 am to 2:00 p.m. at state police barracks.
State police barracks throughout Maryland will be participating in the National Drug Take Back Day. Each barrack will act as a collection station giving citizens an opportunity to dispose of all unwanted and unused prescription drugs. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to being misuse and abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the United States is at alarming rate, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including right the home medicine cabinet. In addition, most Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine. They often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away. Both are potential safety and health hazards.
Locally during the last initiative in April 2015, troopers collected over 1,300 pounds of prescription drugs. Statewide, 49,581 pounds of prescription medications were collected from members of the public.
