Canby Police Department Press Release
March 8th, 2011 10:32 PM Drug Take-Back event This spring, the Canby Police Department, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Providence Willamette Falls, will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. On Saturday, April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Canby Police Department and its partners will hold their second National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at the Canby Police Department located at 122 N. Holly Street in Canby. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Last September, Americans turned in over 242,000 pounds—121 tons—of prescription drugs at nearly 4,100 sites operated by more than 3,000 of the DEA’s state and local law enforcement partners. The agency hopes to collect even more this spring by opening the event to long term care facilities. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, a national study of 139 waterways and streams in 30 states found drugs in 80% of the water samples. While there is no evidence of the risk to human health, these products contain compounds detected in trace amounts in aquatic systems even past our wastewater treatment plants. Drugs from households and care facilities reach waterways from flushing drugs down the toilet into sewers, septic systems, and trash disposals resulting in landfill leachate that reaches surface water or infiltrates groundwater. Not all drugs can be treated at traditional wastewater treatment plants. Please contact the Canby Police Department at 503-266-1104 or at www.ci.canby.or.us for further information. Contact:
|