JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day.
It’s a day when multiple law enforcement agencies and organizations nationwide partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration to provide ways for people to properly discard their older medications.
Florida Poison Control spokesperson Mike McCormick said statistics show that unsecured, unused prescription meds that were meant for one person have been used as a gateway drug for addicts who rummage through medicine cabinets looking for unused prescription painkillers.
“50% of the people who go on to substance use disorder start with a pill from a friend or family member,” McCormick said.
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Getting rid of unused prescription medication also decreases the probability of a small child ingesting it and getting sick.
McCormick said meds are the only danger to children.
“Suppliments. Vitamins. When it’s available, kids will get to it,” he said.
Other dangers of older medications are expired medications making you sick, losing efficiency and recalls.
“Sometimes things within your body can change. We sometimes have recalls on medication,” McCormick said.
Willman Stockmann is the Diversion Program Manager for the DEA Miami Division, which oversees all DEA offices in Florida.
He said the DEA has two drug take-back events every year, and it appears more people are taking advantage of the events.
“In October, we collected about 25,000 pounds,” Stockman said.
That number was in Florida alone.
On a national level, the last DEA Drug Take-Back day saw the collection of 500 tons of unused medications.
“We would like to see people use the pharmacies, hospitals, and police stations throughout the year because they collect all year long,” Stockmann said.
Visit www.dea.gov/takebackday to find a collection location.