The Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council, Providence Police Deparment And Local Walgreen's Partner With DEA In Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Mayor Taveras, Chief Clements, Health Director Dr. Fine, Council members Jennings and Matos to host press conference TOMORROW AT 1PM promoting safe disposal of unused and expired prescription drugs

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Providence Police Department, the Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council (MSAPC) and Walgreens, today announced prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. Representatives of the MSAPC and Providence Police will be collecting potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10 A.M.-2 P.M. at the Providence Walgreens Pharmacy locations on Elmwood Ave, Admiral Ave, North Main Street and Pocasset Ave. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

In addition, the public is invited to join Mayor Angel Taveras, Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine, Police Chief Hugh Clements, City Councilors Wilbur Jennings and Sabina Matos, and Dr. Nick Zaller, researcher at Miriam Hospital and Chair of the MSAPC at 1pm at 533 Elmwood Avenue on Saturday, April 28 for a brief speaking program and community gathering to promote safe disposal of unused and expired prescription drugs.

"This event is one way to help get unused or expired prescription drugs out of the home and reduce youth access to such medicines," said Peter Asen, Director of The Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council. "The Mayor's Substance Abuse Prevention Council is working to prevent youth access and the potential addiction caused by prescription drug abuse."

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.

"Prescription drug abuse is the nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and take-back events like this one are an indispensable tool for reducing the threat that the diversion and abuse of these drugs pose to public health and safety," said Providence Police Chief Col. Hugh Clements. "The collaboration represented in this initiative is key in our efforts to reduce pharmaceutical drug diversion and abuse."

According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, prescription drug overdoses are now the leading cause of premature death among younger adults in Rhode Island. "I worry about this from the moment I get up in the morning to the moment I go to sleep at night," said Dr. Michael Fine, Director of the Department of Health. "This is becoming a public health emergency, and having people dispose properly of their unused and expired drugs is one part of the solution."