EUGENE, OR – Lane Community College and the Drug Enforcement Administration 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. National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Center for Meeting and Learning, Building 19, main campus, 4000 E. 30th Avenue, Eugene. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Bring your prescription medications for disposal, except for chemotherapy drugs or sharps. Liquids should be tightly closed. Collected items will be turned over to the DEA for proper and safe disposal.
Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at participating sites. In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills.
LCC Public Safety has participated since the beginning. More people show up each event. "Last April we collected nearly 300 pounds of drugs," says Public Safety Chief Jace Smith. "We will continue this activity so long as there is government support to our agency to provide this valuable service. Many members of the community seem especially appreciative."
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.
Map and directions: www.lanecc.edu/center/main-campus
DEA information: http://www.justice.gov/dea
Lane is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution. Visit online at www.lanecc.edu or www.twitter.com/lanenews or www.facebook.com/lanecommunitycollege
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Media contact: Joan Aschim, PIO, aschimj@lanecc.edu or (541) 463-5591