Burnet County and area agencies to collect old prescription drugs
FROM STAFF REPORTS
BURNET — Agencies across the country will join forces April 30 to collect unused and outdated medications and other prescription drugs to keep them from getting into the wrong hands as well as harming the environment, officials said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative also gives residents a chance to join the fight against potential drug abuse.
“Citizens of Burnet County have the opportunity to discard any unwanted prescription medications that may be out of date just sitting in their medicine cabinets,” said Investigator Denton Wills of the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office. “Small children can get ahold of those medications, ingest those, and it can be a life-threatening situation.
“If you just destroy them or flush them down the toilet, it can contaminate the groundwater,” Wills added.
BCSO is hosting a local event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 30 on the Burnet County Courthouse square, 220 S. Pierce St. in Burnet.
More than 5,000 federal, state and local entities across the United States will also take part by setting up their own collection sites.
The Marble Falls Police Department, 209 Main St., is participating as well during the same hours as is the Llano Police Department, 213 W. Main St. in Llano, and the Lampasas Police Department, 301 E. Fourth St. in Lampasas. For other Central Texas collection sites, visit the DEA website HERE and search for locations.
Since 2010, the nationwide collection effort has resulted in more than 2,700 tons of drugs being properly disposed of by the federal agency.
Participating agencies also promote prescription drug abuse awareness.
• According to a study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.5 million Americans abuse controlled prescription drugs each year.
• The same study indicated a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends as well as home medicine cabinets.
• Of the approximately 46,000 Americans who die each year from drug-related deaths, more than half are caused by heroin and prescription opioids.
• Four out of five heroin addicts said they used prescription drugs before becoming addicted to heroin.
When dropping off drugs, officials aim to protect privacy and provide a convenient venue for safe disposal of prescription drugs.
“The citizens can walk up to our command trailer. We’ll have a box. There’s no questions asked. They can drop off their container or bag,” Wills said. “They do not have to remove the labeling. There is no inspection of these drugs, so it makes it convenient for them to just walk up and drop off their medications.”
Go to dea.gov for more information.
editor@thepicayune.com