For Immediate Release: 10/13/2011 11:40 am
Worcester, MA (October 13, 2011) - The Worcester Division of Public Health will be hosting a "Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" on October 29th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence Street, Worcester. The Take-Back Program will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
Residents are encouraged to drop off any and all unused prescription and over the counter medications and are being asked to blacken out or remove personal information on any pill bottles – please leave the name of the medication if possible. If the pills are not in bottles, medication should be placed in a sealed plastic bag. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This year, Worcester will be joined by additional towns hosting "Take-Back" events including Leicester, Millbury and Shrewsbury as part of the Worcester Division of Public Health’s Substance Abuse Prevention Program.
Last year, Americans turned in 376,593 pounds — 188 tons — of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites operated by the DEA and more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement partners.
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the US 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 contact the Worcester Division of Public Health at (508) 799-1762.
