GENESEO, N.Y., Apr. 21, 2023 – On Saturday, April 22, law enforcement agencies, health departments and other stakeholders from across the country will take part in National Prescription Drug Takeback Day – a day dedicated to providing a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs while also educating the public on the potential misuse of medications.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million Americans misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.The survey also found that most of the misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, there are concerns about unused pharmaceuticals getting into the wrong hands. According to the Centers for Disease Control, which has declared this public health threat an epidemic, nearly 841,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses since 1999, more than 70,000 of them in 2019 alone.
Unused prescription drugs pose a danger to our communities as they may end up in the wrong hands, which can lead to tragic or even deadly situations. Medications that are discarded into the trash can be retrieved while those flushed down toilets can contaminate water supplies. Disposing of prescription drugs in a responsible, safe way reduces the risk of overdoses, overdose deaths and helps to remove the potential for harm.
Locally, Casa Trinity has set up secured medication drop boxes throughout the County to make it easy and convenient for residents to dispose of unused or unwanted prescription drugs. To find a collection site nearest you, visit Casa Trinity’s website.
Learn more about National Prescription Drug Takeback Day by visiting the Drug Enforcement Agency’s official website.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is comprised of more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.