FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
September 24, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
AG STRANGE URGES ALABAMIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY THIS SATURDAY
(MONTGOMERY)— Attorney General Luther Strange again is urging
Alabamians to participate in DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, this Saturday,
September 26, at locations throughout the state.
This year’s event – the 10th DEA National Prescription Drug Take-Back–has 89
collection sites scheduled to be available this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The
program is sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to combat
the abuse or misuse of potentially dangerous medicines that have expired or are no
longer needed for those whom these controlled substances were prescribed. Law
enforcement officers will be present at sites throughout Alabama to receive prescription
drugs for safe and proper disposal.
Attorney General Strange has been active in efforts to strengthen and expand
Alabama’s participation in this recurring effort by law enforcement for the safe disposal
of prescription drugs. In recent years, the Attorney General has worked closely with the
DEA, U.S. Attorneys in Alabama, the Alabama Department of Public Health, local law
enforcement and others to promote the Prescription Drug Take-Back program.
Since the first Take-Back event in Alabama, in September of 2010, the program
continues to increase in the amount of drugs collected. DEA Prescription Drug Take-
Back events last fall collected an estimated 5,624 pounds of unwanted, expired or
unused drugs in one day for proper disposal. Throughout Alabama’s nine previous
DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back events, about 37,624 pounds of unwanted, unused or
expired drugs have been removed and disposed of safely.
“We have been encouraged by the continued positive response of agencies and
citizens throughout Alabama who have responded with their support and
participation,” said Attorney General Strange. “This is an important and basic step to
fight drug abuse and drug-related crimes, by assisting in the removal of potentially
dangerous controlled substances from our homes. Many of us have out-dated
prescriptions that are too easily accessible to children and others. These drugs can also
be the target of home invasions and burglaries. On September 26, we are asking the
people of Alabama to protect their homes and communities by locating medicines that
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us Page 2 of 2
are out-of-date or no longer needed, and bringing them in for safe and proper
disposal.”
Law enforcement agencies and interested community partners such as
pharmacies, schools and civic groups are working together to provide as many local
sites as possible throughout Alabama. Each site will be supervised by a law
enforcement officer due to the involvement of controlled substances. This year, 89
collection sites are scheduled to be available across Alabama on Saturday from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m.
Deliveries of drugs to DEA Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events are
confidential, with no personal information collected and no questions asked.
Participants are encouraged to remove labels or black-out information beforehand.
Many teenagers and young people who abuse prescription drugs get them from
family and friends or from their home medicine cabinets. According to a survey by the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, one in five teens has tried Vicodin, a powerful
addictive narcotic painkiller; one in 10 has tried OxyContin, also a prescription narcotic;
one in 10 has used stimulants such as Ritalin or Adderall for non-medical purposes; and
one in 11 admit to getting high on cough syrup.
Prescription drugs pose dangers to children and others who may take them by
accident or who may use them for abusive purposes. Expired drugs may have lost their
effectiveness and therefore no longer be a safe and adequate treatment for the
conditions for which they were prescribed. In addition to concerns of potential
poisoning, abuse or overdose, it also is important environmentally that medicines be
disposed of in a proper manner rather than simply being thrown into garbage, flushed
away or poured down drains, as they could contaminate water supplies and cause an
environmental hazard.
People who wish to participate should inquire with their local law enforcement
agencies, or may check the DEA website for a nearby location. A listing of sites may be
found at www.dea.gov.” If you do not see your area listed on the DEA website, please
check with your local law enforcement officials to see if they may be participating in a
Take-Back event.
–30–
