Drug 'take-back' is Saturday

“There are so many issues with overdosing — kids getting into the pills,” he explained. “Everybody has the medicine cabinet and they get a prescription and don’t finish it. This is to help people safely dispose of medications they no longer need.”

The Commerce effort is part of a nationwide annual initiative. Last April, Americans turned in 376,593 pounds — 188 tons — of prescription drugs at nearly 5,400 sites, according to a DEA news release.

Part of the success of the drug take-back is that it’s anonymous — no questions asked, no information required, Black pointed out.

“Nobody has to get out of the car, write down any information — just dump it (the medication) in the box and we will dispose of it.”

Additionally, embers of the Explorers Scout troop will direct traffic to hasten the process.

The same thing will take place at the Jefferson, Braselton, Arcade and Maysville police departments and at Talmo City Hall and Nicholson City Hall. Both prescription and over-the-counter drugs will be accepted.

“The key is to make it easy for everyone in the community to not have to drive a long way to get rid of their medications,” Black said.

Medicines that remain in the home cabinets are subject to diversion, misuse and abuse, a news release notes. “Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs,” the news release continued. “Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”

The drug take-back also deals with another problem — the pollution of drinking water.

“Americans are now advised that their usual method for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety hazards,” the news release stated.

Medications flushed wind up in streams and, ultimately in municipal drinking water, where they pose long-term threats.

Black said all drugs collected during the Drug Take-Back will be taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s incinerator for disposal.