The ninth National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is today, Saturday, September 27 at more than 5,200 sites across the United States according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Kennedale Police Department is one of these sites. {{more}}
The free and anonymous program enables people to bring their expired, unneeded and unwanted prescription pills and other solids, like patches.
The time is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Liquid medicines, needles or other sharps will not be accepted.
Unused prescription drugs in homes are a public health and safety issue because they can be accidentally consumed or stolen, misused and abused. An estimated 6.5 million Americans abused prescription drugs in 2013 — double the number who used heroin, cocaine and hallucinogens like LSD and Ecstasy combined, the DEA said.
In 2011, more than 22,000 Americans died from overdoses of prescription drugs, including more than 16,500 deaths from narcotic painkillers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Any prescription medications that are no longer needed or usable may be dropped off during these hours. Citizens should bring the medications in the original bottles with or without the printed label.
Click for more information about the Kennedale program.
