PROVIDENCE – The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division collected 44 tons of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs at 580 collection sites throughout New England within four hours during National Drug Take-Back Day on April 28, including 3,340 pounds collected in Rhode Island.
More than 140 drop-boxes across the Ocean State were used to collect the unused prescription medications, many of them at CVS locations. More than 100 CVS Pharmacy locations joined other community sites around the country to host law enforcement take-back events, allowing the public to safely dispose of unwanted medication.
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, misuse of prescription psychotherapeutic drugs is second only to marijuana as the nation’s most prevalent illicit drug use issue. About 6.4 million Americans abused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.
“Another amazing effort by New Englanders to continue to make their homes safer for our youth,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Angelucci. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. DEA thanks the citizens of New England and our dedicated law enforcement partners for their efforts in making this initiative a success.”
“Rhode Islanders deposited a significant amount of unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs into more than 140 drop-boxes across the state,” said U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch. “Proper disposal is a simple yet significant step in preventing prescription medications from being abused. I thank all our law enforcement partners for their commitment to this very important initiative.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
