Communities That Care

Posted on April 14, 2011

Camden PD Taking Back Unwanted Prescription Drugs April 30th

Camden Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public an opportunity to rid their homes of potentially dangerous unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs once again this year.  The service is free and anonymous…no questions are asked.  Just bring your medications to the Camden Police Department at 31 Washington Street on Saturday, April 30th between 10AM and 2PM.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety issue.  Medicines that remain in home cabinets are prime candidates for 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 home medicine cabinets.  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.

Five Town Communities That Care Executive Director Dalene Dutton shared, “In the five town area, one in five high school seniors reported, on a 2010 survey, having used prescription medications to get high .  There is no doubt that this is a serious problem right here in our community.  The Take Back Initiative offers a safe, easy way to take unwanted medications out of circulation.  I commend the Camden Police Department for participating in this important event.”

Last September, Americans turned in 242,000 pounds (121 tons) of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by the DEA in partnership with more than 3,000 state and local law enforcement agencies—including the Camden Police Department.  Camden Police Chief Randy Gagne is an enthusiastic supporter of the program.  When asked about it, he said, “Camden Police are glad to be taking part in the National Drug take back program once again this year. The program was a huge success last year with the Camden Police Department collecting over four boxes of medication. We will gladly collect these unwanted medications and see that they are disposed of properly!”

For more information about the Take Back event at the Camden Police Department, call the Camden PD at 236-7953 or Five Town Communities That Care at 236-9800, or visit the Drug Enforcement Agency’s website.

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