National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 27

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Tags: Sisters of Charity Health System

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Too often, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That's dangerous and often tragic. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6 million Americans misused 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. National data also show that nearly half of adolescents who reported misusing pain relievers said they got them from a friend or relative. The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses this crucial public safety and public health issue, and provides an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths.

On Saturday at nearly 6,000 sites around the country, including hundreds in Ohio and South Carolina, people can safely, anonymously and responsibly dispose of unused prescriptions at nearby locations. Search here for a location near you.

The 16th Take Back Day in October collected more than 914,000 pounds of unused medications. In all, Take Back Day events have collected nearly 11 million pounds of unused medications.