Alaskans Turn In 1,838 Pounds During Recent National Prescription Take-Back Day
October 10, 2012
Until a safe disposal process for prescription medications is established nationwide, the DEA will continue to partner with agencies, like the Alaska State Troopers, to hold Take Back Days every six months. In all, there were 35 Take Back locations in 24 communities around Alaska that participated in the event in September: Anchorage, Aniak, Bethel, Craig, Dillingham, Eagle River, Fairbanks, Emmonak, Fort Greely, Glennallen, Juneau, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, McGrath, Nome, North Pole, Palmer, St. Mary's, Seward, Sitka, Soldotna, Talkeetna and Wasilla. 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 2010 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. The Alaska State Troopers thanked the DEA along with the Alaska National Guard Counterdrug Support Program, the U.S. Department of Justice, Anchorage PD, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Juneau PD, Wasilla PD, Fairbanks PD, Palmer PD, Valdez PD, North Pole PD, Craig PD, Soldotna PD, Kenai PD and Seward PD for their efforts. According to a news release, the event wouldn't have been possible or successful without the enormous effort put out by the volunteers and private agencies.
Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews Source of News:
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