profession
DEA-organized prescription drug take-back day set for April
Posted April 2, 2012
Physicians can direct patients to safely dispose of any unused, unwanted or expired medications by participating in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28.
People who misuse prescription drugs frequently obtain them surreptitiously by grabbing them from friends’ or neighbors’ medicine cabinets, as patients hang on to opioids and other drugs long after they are needed. If the drugs are thrown into the trash in their prescription container, it is relatively easy for recreational users to dig through outdoor garbage bins to obtain them.
A take-back day organized by the DEA in October 2011 brought in nearly 200 tons of prescription medications. Patients can find the collection site nearest them through the DEA’s take-back initiative website (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/04/02/prbf0402.htm.
