From Harford County government:
In the interest of public safety, public health and the environment several Harford County agencies and organizations will participate in the first ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Harford County will be collecting expired, unused and unwanted medicines on the parking lot of the county administration building located at 220 South Main Street Bel Air, Maryland. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
The purpose of this nationwide service 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 last month. Locally over the past five years 55% of the drug and alcohol overdose deaths of Harford County residents were related to prescription drug overdoses. This is the reason the Harford County Department of Community Services, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Harford County Health Department, the Harford County Narcotics Task Force and Upper Chesapeake Health are participating in this first ever national event.
“This nationwide effort to turn in medicines is an event that mirrors two of my five major initiatives, Public Safety and Environmental Stewardship,” stated Harford County Executive David Craig. “Once unused and outdated medicines are turned in they will not get in the hands of someone who will abuse them and the drugs will be disposed of properly, without harm to the environment.”
Harford County Health Officer Susan Kelly echoes the County Executive’s comments. The Health Department see firsthand how powerful medicines are showing up in our waterways after citizens’ dispose of drugs down household drains.
Citizens seeking substance abuse treatment at the Health Department frequently report prescription drug abuse. Upper Chesapeake Health is also an important partner in this initiative.
Sheriff L. Jesse Bane states “The prescription take back day is a safe way for our communities to dispose of unwanted medicines they have in their homes. Working together with all of our partners will help eliminate a source of abused prescription drugs, and reduce the hazard they pose to our families in a safe, legal, and environmentally sound way.”
Sheriff Bane encourages all Harford County citizens to participate in this take back initiative.
In addition to the drop off location at the county office building in Bel Air, medicines can also be dropped off at the Havre De Grace Police Department located at 715 Pennington Ave, Havre De Grace, Maryland 21078 on the same date and times.
For more information about this prescription drug take back day please contact the Harford County Office of Drug Control Policy via email at odcp@harfordcountymd.gov or by phone at 410-638-3333.
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