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Police Department
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| News Release | ||
| For Immediate Release | |
Contact Person:
Chief W. Keith Early
Prince George County Police
804.733.2773 |
October 18, 2016
PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY POLICE ARE TAKING BACK UNWANTED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ON OCTOBER 22nd AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PARKING LOT.
Prince George, VA - On Saturday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Prince George County Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will be providing the public another opportunity to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills to the Prince George Police Department at 6600 Courthouse Road, Prince George, VA 23875. The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps – only pills and patches will be taken. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last April, Americans turned in 447 tons (over 893,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 5,400 sites operated by the DEA. Overall, in its 11 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 6.4 million pounds—about 3,200 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, or about the October 22 Take Back Day event, go to the DEA Diversion website.