The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reported taking in more than 22,000 pounds of prescription drugs in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Montana during its second national Take-Back Day on Saturday.
In Colorado alone, residents turned in 14,114 pounds of prescription drugs. The DEA had the drugs incinerated.
“The Prescription Drug Take-Back program allowed the public to dispose of unused medications safely,” said Kevin R. Merrill, DEA acting special agent in charge. “Our citizens who participated in this national event may have saved the life of a loved one. We should all be grateful for their participation, as well as the participation of our event partners who worked Saturday in service to our communities.”
The rates of prescription-drug abuse are high. The one-day program allows the public to turn in unused, expired or unwanted drugs gathering dust in medicine cabinets.
Throwing the drugs in the trash or flushing them down the toilet is not considered to be a safe solution.
