Prescription drug ‘Take Back Day’ is April 30

By Carol Bell
    The diversion of pharmaceuticals is a growing problem in the United States, and the Drug Enforcement Agency is doing its part to respond to this threat, which includes the national Take Back program scheduled to take place across America on Saturday, April 30, 2011.
    Please check your expiration date s on all prescription and over-the-counter medications. Any medication that has expired or is not currently being used should be turned into any local police department for proper disposal before April 30. Medications can be turned in any time throughout the year, but we are encouraging you to participate before April 30 so we can take advantage of the national Take Back Day program.
    If you have family members who would have difficulty sorting through their medications, please take the time to assist them with this important task. Simplifying medication options in the home will reduce the opportunity for medication error and reduce opportunity for misuse by others. If you have questions please call your local police department.
• Unintentional overdose deaths involving prescription opioids increased 175 percent between 2001 (3,944) and 2006 (11,001), the most recent year data is available.
• The economic costs of diversion and abuse of prescription drugs is steep. For example, the estimated cost to public and private medical insurers is $72.5 billion a year.
• It is estimated that up to 62 percent of teens get prescription medicines for non-medical use from family and friends homes and medicine cabinets.
• Every day, on average, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time.
• Fifty-six percent of teens believe that prescription drugs are easier to get than illicit drugs.
• Two in five teens believe that prescription drugs are “much safer” than illegal drugs. And three in 10 teens believe that prescription pain relievers are not addictive.
• Sixty-three percent of teens believe that prescription drugs are easy to get from friend’s and family’s medicine cabinet.
• According to the Center for Disease Control, prescription drugs, including opioids and antidepressants, are responsible for more overdose deaths than “street drugs” such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines.
    Carol Bell is project director for the Healthy Aroostook a local coalition that collaborates with community partners to make central and southern Aroostook a healthier place to live and work. She can be reached at 768-3056 or via e-mail at cbell@acap-me.org.