National Drug Take Back Day Oct. 28: Get rid of unused medications to prevent poisoning and overdose risk

The SWO Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) Project is promoting the National Pre- scription Drug Take Back Day, which is taking place Satur- day, Oct. 28. The intent of this day is to provide safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications.

Unneeded prescription medication–those that are old, unwanted, or no longer needed – are a public safety issue, too often becoming a gateway to addiction. The majority of opioid addictions start with prescription pills found in med- icine cabinets at home. Phar- maceutical drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs when taken without a prescrip- ion or a doctor’s supervision. A majority of people who mis- use a prescription medication obtained the medicine from a family member or friend. DEA’s National Prescription Drug Tack Back Day events are one way to dispose of unneeded medications. Beyond Take Back Day, there are opportunities to regularly and safely dispose of unneeded medications at pharmacies, hospitals, police departments, and businesses working to clean out medicine cabinets throughout the year.” For more on this story and many more please purchase a copy of the Sisseton Courier on news stands now or purchase a copy of the E-edtion on this website.