Have expired or unused medications at home? People of Clay C.A.R.E. Coalition Allies for Recovery and Education can help you dispose of them in a free, safe way. As part of its efforts to reduce substance misuse in the area, the prevention coalition received several hundred Deterra medication disposal pouches funded by AmeriSource Bergen. Community coalition members will be in front of Hayesville Town Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, Saturday, April 24 for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to distribute the free pouches. There will also be a table with substance abuse prevention literature.
The coalition cannot take unused or expired medications, but they can present residents with a convenient alternative to dispose of unused meds themselves. In 2020, the group received a few hundred disposal pouches from Safe Project and held a Facebook educational event regarding safe storage of medicines and other substances. They also presented free medication disposal pouches and medicine lockboxes to area residents and several local groups, as well as the schools.
The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Information at DEA.gov explained. “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants, and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.
The survey also showed that a majority of misused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. Therefore, keeping unused medicines out of the wrong hands is important.
The Deterra System is powered by proprietary activated carbon, which permanently deactivates prescription and over the counter drugs. Developed under a federal contract awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse <https://www.drugabuse.gov, the patented technology is independently lab-tested and scientifically proven to deactivate drugs, rendering them unavailable for misuse and safe for disposal.
For more information about People of Clay CARE, visit the Facebook page or email: peopleofclaycare@gmail.com.
Lorrie Ross is a staff member of People of clay C.A.R.E. Coalition Allies for Recovery and Education.