National Take-Back Initiative for Unused and Expired Medications - from County Commissioner Abrams

Please be advised this Saturday (9/25/10) is the National Take-Back Initiative providing the public with an opportunity to surrender unused and expired medications for destruction which will help combat problems associated with dangerous controlled substances.  Reportedly, last year Palm Beach County documented over 382 deaths from unintentional overdoses of prescription drugs.  Many of these deaths were in adolescents who had obtained the drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets and the majority were the result of overdoses of controlled substances.  Individuals are urged to bring in all their unused medications to the designated sites (see below) - no questions asked. 

In the past, as many as 300,000 pills were collected in one day.   Also, when people flush unused drugs down the toilet or throw them in the trash, these substances can ultimately enter the drinking water or food supply.

Some of the drop off locations in our area are as follows: 

DELRAY BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT	DELRAY COMMUNITY CENTER	50 NW 1ST. AVE.	DELRAY BEACH	FL, 33444
LIGHTHOUSE POINT POLICE DEPARTMENT	DIXON-AHL HALL	2220 NE 38 STREET	LIGHTHOUSE POINT	FL, 33064
DELRAY BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT	PUBLIX	4771 W. ATLANTIC AVE.	DELRAY BEACH	FL, 33483
LANTANA POLICE DEPARTMENT	LANTANA PD	500 GREYNOLDS CIR.	LAKE WORTH	FL, 33462
PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE	PALM BEACH SHERIFF'S OFFICE	3228 GUN CLUB ROAD	WEST PALM BEACH	FL, 33406

For more information and/or newly added drop off locations, please visit www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/takeback/.    

The following is an excerpt was obtained from the above-referenced Web site.   

 

NATIONAL TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE

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On September 25, 2010, DEA will coordinate a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s medicine cabinets. Collection activities will take place from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at sites established throughout the country.  The National Take-Back Day provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction.  These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

This one-day effort is intended to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. 

• The program is anonymous. 
• Prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications, i.e. tablets and capsules accepted.
• Intra-venous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted.
• Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.  

If you have any comments or suggestions or if you need assistance, please contact me.  I can be reached at sabrams@pbcgov.org or at 561-355-2204 (West Palm Beach) or 561-276-1220 (Delray Beach). 

Also, please visit my Web site at http://www.pbcgov.com/countycommissioners/district4/ for updates and links to county divisions and other governmental agencies.

Commissioner Steven L. Abrams