Prescription drug take back is Saturday

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas has a prescription drug epidemic. According to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and Medical Examiner’s Office, 335 Arkansans died from drug overdoses in 2016, with nearly 40 percent of those deaths from Pulaski, Sebastian and Washington counties.

“These numbers are staggering and should be a wakeup call to us all,” said Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in a release. “It is important for Arkansans to know that oftentimes teens first use prescription pain killers by stealing the pills right from a family member’s medicine cabinet. By cleaning out our medicine cabinets and turning the expired and unused medications over to law enforcement during a prescription drug take back event, lives can be saved.”

Rutledge is reminding all Arkansans about the many drop-off locations available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Rutledge released the following list of medications that will be accepted at these events across the state: opioids, such as Oxy Contin; stimulants, such as Adderall; depressants, such as Ativan; other prescription medications; over-the-counter medicines; vitamins; pet medicines; medicated ointments and lotions; inhalers; liquid medicines in glass or leak-proof containers (up to 12 ounces); medicine samples.

Medications may be returned in the original bottle or in any other container for increased privacy.

Properly destroying these medications protects the environment. Medicines that are flushed or poured down the drain can end up polluting waters, which could contaminate food and water supplies. Many medicines are not removed by wastewater treatment plants or septic systems. Turning over these medications at Take Back Day events also reduces the risk of accidental poisonings by children, seniors or pets, as well as reduces the risk of drug abuse.

To find event sites and year-round dropoff locations near you, visit the updated http://ARTakeBack.org. The attorney general’s office also hosts take back events at mobile offices around the state.

Rutledge is partnering on the Prescription Drug Take Back with the Arkansas Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas Rotary Clubs, Arkansas State Board of Pharmacy, FBI, Office of the State Drug Director, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and more than 130 additional law enforcement and government agencies, community organizations and public health providers.

For more information about consumer-related issues, call the Arkansas Attorney General’s office at 800-482-8982, email consumer@ArkansasAG.gov or visit http:// ArkansasAG.gov.