National Drug Take Back Day 2023: National Drug Take-Back Day, held on April 25 and also known as “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day,” is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Its purpose is to raise public awareness of the risks associated with prescription drug use and abuse. Numerous Americans do not know how to dispose of prescription medications that have outlived their usefulness. Using these expired medications, or using someone else’s, endangers both the public and the environment.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DRUG RETURN DAY
Do the proper thing
Deliver your expired or suspicious prescription medications to a DEA-approved facility. Locally, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., a plainly marked area with authorised representatives will accept prescription drugs from pharmacies and national chains. If you have concerns, you can find a wealth of information about the campaign on the DEA’s website.
Locate a substance treatment facility.
On National Drug Take-Back Day, if you or someone you know is struggling with an opioid or prescription drug addiction, locate a treatment centre. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is an option for treatment that incorporates behavioural therapies and medications to heal the patient holistically. Methadone and buprenorphine are being integrated successfully into treatment programmes.
Visit the Partnership Toolbox of the DEA
Be a protagonist in the battle against the abuse of prescription drugs. Visit the website of the DEA and acquire their Partnership Toolbox. You can download posters and locate treatment centres, among other things.
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5 URGENT FACTS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
It’s lethal.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription medication abuse is a leading cause of death.
You will be hospitalised
Approximately 120,000 Americans are hospitalised annually due to medication overdoses.
It hits rural areas severely.
The rate of prescription opioid overdose deaths is greatest in rural areas of the United States.
It ranks first in fatalities.
According to the CDC, prescription painkillers are now the leading cause of fatal overdoses.
It affects our adolescents.
Seventy percent of adolescents who abuse prescription drugs cite numerous reasons for doing so, such as the need to decompress and peer pressure; astonishingly, some adolescents have no idea why they began abusing the drugs in the first place.
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REASONS WHY NATIONAL DRUG RETURN DAY IS IMPORTANT
Only prescription substance removal is permitted.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is observed every six months. The DEA launched this campaign to educate the public on the significance of disposing of prescription medications safely. This will prevent them from falling into the incorrect hands. The campaign excludes illegal substances and paraphernalia, as well as inhalers and blood test strips. When prescription drugs are discarded improperly, we are all placed in danger.
It teaches proper disposal techniques.
Never flush expired prescription medications down the washbasin or commode unless the label specifically instructs you to do so. Find a DEA-approved location or do it yourself safely. Remove the drugs from the container and combine them with soil, used coffee grounds, or a similar substance. Then, seal the medications in a bag and dispose of them in the trash. If you are still uncertain, consult your genial neighbourhood chemist.
It helps keep communities secure
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 6,400,000 Americans abused prescription controlled substances. Many of these medications were stolen from the medicine cabinet of an acquaintance or relative. The DEA considers medications that fall into the wrong hands to be a public safety and environmental concern. National Drug Take-Back Day encourages the proper disposal of prescription drugs, and thereby, presumably, saves lives.
