Saturday is National Rx Take-Back Day
April 26, 2019
OKLAHOMA CITY – National Rx Take-Back Day is this weekend but the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics reminds those across the state that they don't have to wait for an official take-back event to get rid of unwanted medication.
OBN Spokesman Mark Woodward said the agency's "Safe Trips for Scripts" program currently has 176 OBN drug disposal boxes in law enforcement lobbies in all 77 Oklahoma counties allowing the public to dispose of old medication throughout the year.
“Take-back days have been very successful, but we don’t want people stock-piling expired medication in their home for weeks or months until a take-back event is held in their community. These boxes provide citizens a simple and convenient way to drop off the medication in the law enforcement lobby on their way to work or while out running errands,” Woodward said.
OBN has collected and safely disposed over 82 tons of medication dropped off by citizens since the first box was installed in February of 2011.
John Scully, OBN director, said "clearing household medicine cabinets of unwanted or expired medication is critical to limit the availability of dangerous prescription drugs that could fall into the hands of our youth."
“Data suggest as many as 40 percent of American households have expired or unwanted medicine in need of being safely disposed of. Research suggests nearly half of youths (47%) say it is easy to obtain prescription drugs from a parent’s medicine cabinet and 75% of heroin users reported they began their addiction by obtaining opioids from the medicine cabinets of family and friends. In an efforts to save lives and prevent addiction, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control is heavily invested in the recovery and destruction of unwanted medications. OBN’s Safe Trips for Scripts Program is one of our many efforts to prevent diversion and limit the potential for opioid misuse and abuse. OBN also partners with other agencies and organizations, to help citizens safely dispose of these dangerous medications.” Scully said.
Why National Drug Take Back Day is Important
• It's only for prescription drug removal
National Drug Take Back Day occurs every six months. The DEA started this campaign so the public would understand how important it is for prescription drugs to be disposed of safely. That way they won't fall into the wrong hands. Illegal drugs and paraphernalia – as well as inhalers and blood test strips – aren't part of the campaign. When prescription drugs are disposed of improperly, it puts us all in harm's way.
• It teaches the correct methods of disposal
Never flush expired prescription drugs down the sink or toilet unless the label on the bottle says so. Locate a DEA-approved location or do it safely yourself. Remove the drugs from the bottle and mix them in with dirt, used coffee grounds, kitty litter or something similar. Then, place the drugs in a sealable bag and chuck into the garbage can. If you're still unsure, ask your friendly neighborhood pharmacist for advice.
• It helps communities stay safe
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. Many of these drugs were snatched from a friend or family member's medicine cabinet. The DEA considers medications that fall into the wrong hands a safety and environmental issue affecting all of us. That's why National Drug Take Back Day urges the proper disposal of prescription drugs – and, hopefully, saves lives.
Locally the Woods County Sheriff’s Department, 407 Government St., Alva, has a take back container located in the courthouse hallway across from their office door.
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