Prescription Drug “Take-Back” Initiative Prevents Pill Abuse

Big Bear, Ca, September 16, 2010, 3:00pm –  The Drug Enforcement Administration and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft.  DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, September 25^th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.  This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.  “A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from medicine cabinets in the homes of family members and friends, not from the streets”, said Sheriff Rod Hoops.  “Many citizens do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are both potential safety and health hazards.  Our goal is to get these unused medications out of homes and disposed of properly”, he added. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will have nine stations participating with the collection of these unused prescription medications, including the Big Bear Lake Sheriffs Station on Big Bear Blvd, and the Twin Peaks Sheriff Station located on Highway 189.   They will be open on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and no appointment is necessary.