Residents dropped off 178 pounds of prescribed medications Sept. 25 at the Kent Police station during the department’s first Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
The police department accepted medications during a four-hour period at the station. People still showed up at the station even after the event had ended to drop off medicines, according to a Kent Police media release.
“People were very grateful for the opportunity to have somewhere to dispose of their medications,” said Stacy Judd, a Kent Police public education specialist.
Those who dropped off items said the prescription medicines were unused, outdated or simply not needed. Many of the medications turned in were several decades old.
Kent Police participated in the event as part of a nationwide effort spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration and local authorities.
The goal of the program is to provide a safe and secure environment for the community to turn in unused or expired medications.
Kent hopes to have another Prescription Drug Take Back Day at a date yet to be determined.
“It’s our hope to continue providing this service to our residents, making their homes and the community safer,” said Kent Police Sgt. Pat Lowery.
Due to their ready access, prescription drugs are now the second most commonly abused narcotic (behind marijuana) in America, according to a Kent Police media release.
While most people take prescription medications responsibly, 48 million people have reported using prescription drugs for non-medical reasons. That number represents nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population.
For information about safe disposal of prescription and non-prescription medications, go to www.takebackyourmeds.org.
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