UMPD Takes Part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Last September, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held its inaugural National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The event is designed to help prevent pill abuse and theft, which is recognized by the DEA as a vital public safety and public health issue.

“Unfortunately, abuse of prescription medications by teenagers, as well as adults, has become a popular way to ‘get high,’” Upper Moreland Township police officer said in an email. “It is the addiction of choice for many due to their availability.”

According to a DEA release about the Drug Take-Back Day event, more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those who use cocaine, hallucinogens and heroin combined.

In addition to that fact, the release states that many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, which is then likely left to languish in the family medicine cabinet. When such medicine is disposed of, it is often done so by flushing it down the toilet or throwing it away, which could cause safety and health hazards.

For this reason, the DEA holds the nationwide event at 4,100 sites, coordinated by more than 3,000 DEA state and local law-enforcement partners.

Ruddell will be helping to coordinate the Drug Take-Back Day event, taking place at the and at the in Willow Grove, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., April 30.

Last year, police collected over 242,000 pounds (121 tons) of prescription drugs at the event.

This year, the UMPD will join over 4,700 other sites across the country in collecting the medications.

“This event was a huge success, and provided members of the communities with an opportunity to clean out and safely dispose of unused medications,” Ruddell said.

Participants in this free event need only bring with them their unused or expired over-the-counter or prescription drugs to either drop-off location—no questions asked.

“Ultimately, this event allows law enforcement the opportunity to work with the members of the community to save lives,” Ruddell said.

For more information, call the UMPD at 215-657-4700 or visit www.nationaltakebackday.com.