Prescriptions pg 1 9-16-10
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- Category: Past Issues
PUTNAM --- Recognizing the increasing abuse and misuse of prescription drugs, the Putnam Police Department and Putnam PRIDE will participate in the first-ever nationwide, “Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.” From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25, representatives of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Putnam Police Department and PRIDE (Partnership to Reduce the Influence of Drugs for Everyone) will be collecting potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction. The collection site will be located at the Riverview Farmers Market on Kennedy Drive.
“This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said Police Chief Rick Hayes and PRIDE Coordinator Romeo Blackmar in a cooperative statement. “Many people are unaware that prescriptions that sit in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse.”
Blackmar stated that even smaller communities like Putnam are not immune to the growing issue of prescription medication abuse by teens as well as adults. Each day nearly 2,500 youth aged 12-17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the very first time. Studies show that a majority of abuse prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many people do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them out with the garbage, both are potential safety and health hazards.
Chief Hayes said, “This is an opportunity for community members to turn in unused, unneeded and expired prescription medications with no questions asked. This is a free, anonymous service that will keep homes safe and could save lives.”
Putnam PRIDE is a community based coalition funded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. PRIDE has recently been awarded its’ fifth year of federal funding under the Drug Free Communities grant. Putnam PRIDE is a coalition of law enforcement, students, citizens, parents, business representatives, media, education representatives, Day Kimball Hospital and the faith based community to raise community awareness of alcohol and drug issues throughout Putnam. The mission of the coalition is: “To unite the citizens of Putnam in a partnership to create and foster a safe, healthy and drug-free environment for the entire community.