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Sheriff's Office to Participate in DEA Drug Take Back Day 4/27/2012 The Hall County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce its participation in the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, an initiative by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to partner with local law enforcement agencies in an effort to prevent increased illegal pill abuse and theft. Sheriff's Deputies will be collecting expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs and over-the-counter solid medications for destruction on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10 AM - 2 PM at Georgia State Patrol Post 6, located at 2000 Cleveland Highway (US HWY 129), just north of Gainesville. The drop station will be set up in the parking lot. The service is free of charge, and participants can remain completely anonymous. However, illegal substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine, intravenous solutions, and hypodermic needles will not be accepted. Deputy Sheriffs will be on duty to collect the prescription drugs. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Americans that participated in the DEA's third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months. “The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.” “With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.  Press Releases Press Archives |
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