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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – CHICAGO – April 24, 2012 – To promote the safe disposal of prescription drugs, the American Medical Association (AMA) encourages patients to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28.
“Prescription drugs in the home are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse, and improper drug disposal can pose a threat to the environment,” said AMA President Peter W. Carmel, M.D. “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day provides people across the country with an opportunity to safely and properly dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription drugs.”
According to the CDC, prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States. Unused drugs in the home can contribute to this public health crisis, and teens are particularly prone to misuse unused prescription drugs left in medicine cabinets. Improper drug disposal can also pose a threat to the environment. At the last prescription drug take-back event held on October 29, 2011, the DEA collected more than 188.5 tons of unwanted or expired medications.
“The DEA hosts periodic events like this to retrieve unused prescription drugs, but there is no place for people to return unused drugs safely and legally all year,” said Dr. Carmel. “The AMA supports legislation that would address this issue, as it is an important part of the overall strategy for combating prescription drug abuse.”
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will take place on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. To find a collection site near you, visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. To learn more about what the AMA is doing to combat drug diversion, visit http://www.ama-assn.org/go/stopdrugabuse.
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