On Saturday, September 27, 2014 the Fort Myers Police Department will participate in a national initiative to get prescription drugs off the streets. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s “National Take-Back Day” will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement for destruction. This one day effort will bring focus to the issue of prescription drug abuse and provides a safe collection site for everyone, regardless of where they live. The program is anonymous and participants should use the following guidelines:
- Controlled, non-controlled and over the counter substances may be collected.
- Participants may dispose medication in its original container. Labels identifying the patient should be removed.
- Medication can also be removed from its container and disposed of directly into the collection box.
- Liquid products such as cough syrup should remain sealed to prevent leakage.
- Intravenous solutions and syringes will not be accepted due to the potential hazard posed by blood-borne pathogens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month. Often these medications languish in the home and are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. The 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that the majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends for free, including the home medicine cabinet. Many people simply don’t know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine. Flushing it down the toilet or throwing it away both present potential health and safety hazards.
Collection boxes will be located at FMPD headquarters at 2210 Widman Way on Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.