LIHU‘E — The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day drive on Oct. 29 at the Kaua‘i Police Department headquarters resulted in the recovery of 120 pounds of various unused medications, county officials said. This program was initiated by the Drug
LIHU‘E — The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day drive on Oct. 29 at the Kaua‘i Police Department headquarters resulted in the recovery of 120 pounds of various unused medications, county officials said.
This program was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration to address vital public safety and health issues concerning the illicit use of prescription medication, according to KPD.
The DEA in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States began conducting National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in 2010.
Since this program began, nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation have participated in these events and collected more than 309 tons of pills.
“This effort, along with the county’s anti-drug programs, enforcement, education, treatment and prevention programs, is the key to creating safer communities,” Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry said in a news release.
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said he supports the DEA program and urges the public to participate in future drives.
“As part of the joint effort to address this problem, the weekend drive was held at 12 different locations throughout the state and continues to expand,” Carvalho said.
More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a national survey conducted in 2009 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet, studies show.
Each day, some 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
