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You've read the stories of people, often children, getting hold of prescription drugs and dying of an overdose. It's clear that having prescription medications lying around the house is dangerous. Saturday, April 30 is a good time to dispose of expired, unused or unwanted prescriptions. It is the second annual, Prescription Drug "Take-Back" Day. The DEA will be collecting prescription drugs for disposal at sites throughout Connecticut between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Last year during the initiative the DEA collected 25,810 pounds of prescription medications, and nationwide, more than 242,000 pounds of prescriptions were dropped off.
The DEA website offers some facts about prescription drug abuse:
* In 2009 during the course of only one month, 7 million Americans aged 12 years and older abused prescription drugs, more than the combined number of people who abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and inhalants.
* During each day of 2008, approximately 6,000 people abused prescription pain killers for the first time.
* Each day, about 2,500 teens use prescription drugs.
* One in seven teens admits to having abused prescription drugs in the past year, and 60 percent of teens did so before the age of 15.
* Fifty-six percent of teens report that prescription drugs are easier to get than illicit drugs.
* Two in five teens state prescription drugs are safer than illegal drugs, and three of 10 teens believe that prescription pain relievers are not addictive.
Prescription Drug "Take-Back" Day is free and anonymous.Have you cleaned your medicine chest of old, unused or unwanted prescriptions? If not, will you participate in Prescription Take Back day? Please let me know.
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