Events help rid homes of medications
Many locations are available for Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
One in four teens report abusing or misusing a prescription drug at least once in their lifetimes, according to a press release from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
And daily, one person dies from a prescription opioid overdose in Arizona, the release notes.
Saturday, however, Arizonans have a chance to make a difference.
It’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, a day in which people can drop off unneeded prescription drugs in a safe, secure environment.
People keep prescription drugs for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s out of concern that the issue will flare back up again, and it’s easier to keep past leftovers on hand. Sometimes it’s because it’s not convenient to dispose of the medications, and sometimes, it’s simply an oversight. The medication is forgotten on a shelf, nested behind a box of bandages and some cotton balls.
Whatever the reason, keeping leftover medications can be dangerous, especially if the medications are opioids.
“Most teens and adults who abuse prescription drugs get them from a friend or family member’s medicine cabinet,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich in the press release. “We all need to get rid of prescription drugs when they are no longer needed because it could save a life.”
A 2014 USA Today article noted that flushing old medications down the toilet is a dangerous idea, because the drugs could eventually wind up back in the water supply.
And left on the shelf, the medications could wind up in the wrong hands — be it an addict, a potential addict, or a small child.
Drop-off events such as this one help alleviate those issues, and get the unwanted medications off the street.
Acceptable items include all expired, unused or unwanted controlled and non-controlled medications, vitamins, veterinary medication, over-the-counter medications and liquid products.
However, needles, syringes, lancets, thermometers, IV bags, chemotherapy drugs, IV solutions and illegal substances will not be accepted.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Yuma County, people can drop off unwanted medications at the following locations:
• Yuma County Sheriffs Office – Foothills Substation, 13190 E. South Frontage Road • Yuma Police Department, 1500 S. 1st Ave. • San Luis Police Department, 1030 E. Union St. • Wellton Police Department, 28618 Oakland Ave. YPD and YCSO also offer full-time drop boxes, which accept items during regular business hours.
It’s time to do a little spring cleaning, Yuma, and get rid of those old medications!