On Saturday, October 28th, from 10am to 2pm Ferndale Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 14th opportunity in 7 years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
The Drug Take Back Day initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines sitting in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the US is at an alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs according to the DEA. The DEA says a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, common methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
The community is encouraged to bring any pills for disposal to the Ferndale Police Department at 2220 Main Street on October 28th between 10am and 2pm. No liquids, needles or sharps can be collected. Only pills or patches. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.