National “Take-Back” Campaign Expected to Net The Most Pills– Ever!
Certain pills are dangerous not only for the environment (scientists are still unable to calculate the risk of extensive exposure to chemicals found in the public water supply, when everything from birth control to antidepressants are improperly disposed of) but also for children who are attempting to get high on Mom and Dad’s supply.
To battle these dangers, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) provided a way for people to safely get rid of their unused, expired and unwanted medication by creating roughly 4,000 "take-back" nationwide checkpoints on September 25th.
The total number of pills returned is expected to be much larger than the amount collected during a similar initiative held last year by the DEA in New Jersey, where approximately 9,000 pounds (35 million dollars worth) of medicine was received during the drive.
Researchers are now saying the next step is to call for the pharmaceutical companies to follow suit, and to change the advisory bottle labels from suggesting that customers flush leftover medication down the toilet to telling them to bring the pills to the take back check point.
Source: ABC News
Related Post: Safe Prescription Drug Disposal
