From Harford County Government, Department of Community Services:
(Bel Air, MD) – On Saturday, April 30, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Harford County will once again participate in the Nationwide Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Harford County will have two drop-off locations: the Parking Lot of the County Office Building, 220 S. Main Street in Bel Air (corner of Business Rt. 1 and Main Street); and the Havre de Grace Police Station, 715 Pennington Avenue in Havre de Grace. No questions are asked when old and/or unused medicines are turned in.
In November 2010, the Harford County Prescription Drug Take-Back event was a great success, with over 350 individuals participating in the event, resulting in 1,200 pounds of old and unused medicines being turned in for proper disposal. In September 2010, the event resulted in 700 pounds of unused and old medicines; meaning in 2010, nearly one ton of old and unused medicines were turned in and destroyed. It is anticipated that the April 2011 event will result in an even greater turnout and intake.
The focus of this nationwide event is to help address the alarming rate of drug overdoses related to prescription and over the counter medicines. Nationally, an estimated 6.2 million Americans over the age of 12 years old reported misusing prescription drugs. Locally, over the past five years, 55% of the drug and alcohol overdose deaths of Harford County residents were related to prescription drug overdoses.
Harford County Executive David R. Craig is proud of the citizens who participated in the 2010 events, stating, “The medicines that were turned in will not get in the hands of someone who could abuse them and the drugs were disposed of properly, without harm to the environment.”
The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy coordinates the local events to address the devastation that local prescription drug abuse is having in Harford County. This will be the third Prescription Drug Take Back event in Harford County.
Joseph Ryan, the manager of the Office of Drug Control Policy hopes the Prescription Take Back events enhance the level of awareness concerning the dangers of prescription drug abuse, especially among our youth.
For more information about prescription drug abuse contact the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy at odcp@harfordcountymd.gov or 410-638-3333.
The Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy is a division within the Department of Community Services. The Harford County Department of Community Services was established in 1979 via Executive Order and works daily to meet the needs of our seniors, youth, persons with disabilities and those struggling to overcome addiction. The Department works with federal, state, local, and private agencies to ensure our county remains dedicated to providing the best possible services for our citizens and community.
People must understand that this kind of medicine – hydrocodone, lortab and percocet – must be taken in a moderate way because side effects cause liver damage and Findrxonline mentions that the overuse of pain medications can be dangerous. He is suggested before making decisions with this type of medication see to his doctor and don’t buy without a prescription.