Six Tons Of Medications Collected In Arkansas Drug Take-Back Drive
November 7, 2011
At least some of the risk of prescription drug abuse – and the potential for their illegal sale – has eased after local authorities and the Drug Enforcement Agency collected approximately six tons of expired or unwanted medications from local homes during the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Drug Take Back Initiative. According to Arkansas Online, the one-day event took place on October the 29 and gathered more medication than any other drive before.
The agency asked homeowners to bring their unwanted medications to any of the 138 collection sites across the state to be properly disposed of. In all, they say there was 11,924 pounds of medication, or 16.9 million pills, collected during the event. That is up by more than 4,500 pounds over the amount that was handed in during a similar event held in April of this year. The state says that the campaign has gathered 12 tons of unused medication since the program’s inception last year.
Authorities say not only does the program reduce accidental overdoses by children and abuse by teens and adults, but also protects the environment after trace amounts of chemicals were found in water supplies after citizens had flushed medications down the toilet.
The Arkansas Personal Injury Lawyers at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton would like to applaud this program and urge Arkansas citizens to clean out their medicine cabinets to dispose of old, unwanted or unneeded drugs during the next event to be held in several months.
