Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), the East Providence Police Department (EPPD), and the East
Providence Prevention Coalition (EPPC), announce a prescription drug
“Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. The DEA will
be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs
for destruction on Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10 A.M.-2 P.M. at
the East Providence Police Station located
at 750 Waterman Avenue. The service is free and anonymous, no
questions asked. 

This initiative
addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that
medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and
abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are increasing at
alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.
Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and
friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, many
Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often
flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health
hazards.

 For more information
visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/ or contact the EPPC
at 401-435-1923.