This year, National Drug Takeback Day is April 29. It gives everyone concerned a chance to address a crucial public health and safety issue.
National Drug Takeback Day is in its ninth year of providing a safe way to dispose of drugs. People can clean out their medicine cabinet of expired, unused or unneeded prescription drugs.
Here’s How Drug Takeback Day Works
Most people believe that drug addiction starts with illicit and illegal substances. While this does happen, it is not the only way someone becomes addicted. The day is also a chance to educate the public about the potential of abuse.
Studies show that many people who abuse prescription drugs get them from the medicine cabinet. They may go to a family or friend’s house. Some may even get them from their own prescribed medicines.
This national day aims to give people a safe, responsible and convenient way to dispose of prescription drugs. They can take those drugs to a location site in their area.
Unsafe Practices to Throwing Away Medications
A person can enter prescription drug addiction rehab from many different paths. Throwing medications in the trash is not a guarantee that someone will not find them. Leaving labels on the bottles make them more visible to the person looking for a way to get high.
Sealing medications in a plastic bag with kitty litter or dirty diapers may not be discouraging enough. Some people will go to great lengths to get what they believe will make them feel better.
Flushing prescription drugs down the toilet also isn’t safe. The toilet is connected to the local water system. It is also connected to the environment. Getting rid of drugs this way adds to pollution problems.
Why National Drug Takeback Day Is an Important Cause
Leaving medications lying openly around the house increases the likelihood that someone will explore their effects. This is especially true if a person struggles with an opioid addiction. Some may also view potentially addictive medications as a “quick fix.”
Mistakenly taking the wrong medication is another possibility when drugs are easily accessible. National Prescription Drug Takeback Day helps to eliminate these potential hazards.
Safe Ways to Dispose of Drugs
There are safer ways to dispose of prescription medications. For example, local law enforcement agencies have locations around the country where people can drop off medications. More details are on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s website.
The safest way to ensure drugs are disposed and one more person does not become addicted is with one of these drop-off locations.
Crestview Recovery Supports National Drug Takeback Day
Prescription drug addiction is a real problem for real people. Crestview Recovery fully supports all efforts to decrease the number of people fighting for a new life free from drugs. Contact us if you or a loved one needs help in this fight.
We have services to help you win the battle of addiction. Our programs treat all aspects of drug abuse. We provide therapies such as:
Finally, your struggle can end today with one phone call. We are available at 866.262.0531 to help you on the path to sobriety.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
