Help Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse, Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, to be held on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Data Shows that Friends and Family Are A Primary Source of Abused Painkillers
From the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP):
The ONDCP has released a new data analysis revealing that the majority of first-time or occasional prescription drug abusers are most likely to get their drugs from a friend or family member– for free, or without permission. Prescription drugs are the second-most abused category of drugs in the United States, following marijuana. When taken as directed for legitimate medical purposes, prescription drugs are safe and effective. However, they are just as dangerous and deadly as illegal drugs when used for non-medical reasons. This new analysis found that:
Among new abusers of pain relievers (those who began misuse of pain relievers in the past year), 68 percent obtained the pills from a friend or relative for free or took them without asking, 17 percent got them through prescription by one or more doctors, and 9 percent purchased them from a friend, dealer, or the Internet.
Among occasional abusers of pain relievers (less than once a week on average in the past year), 66 percent obtained the pills from a friend or relative for free or took them without asking, 17 percent got them through prescription from one or more doctors, and 13 percent purchased them from a friend or relative, dealer, or the Internet.
Among chronic abusers of pain relievers, 41 percent obtained the pills from a friend or relative for free or without asking, 26 percent got them through prescription from one or more doctors, and 28 percent purchased them from a friend or relative, dealer, or the Internet.
These findings underscore the importance of the proper disposal of unused medications. To help Americans dispose of any unneeded medications in their homes, the Drug Enforcement Administration will host its fourth National Take Back Day on Saturday, April 28th, at over 5,000 collection sites across the United States.
This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to dispose of those medications easily and safely. Americans who participated in the DEA’s third take-back event last fall turned in more than 188 tons of unwanted or expired medications at 5,327 take-back sites for proper disposal.
According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, each day approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. A majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from the home medicine cabinets of family and friends.
For more information, including a Collection Site Locator and a Partnership Toolbox, visit DEA’s website.
SMART Recovery provides its members with tools and support that they can use to help them recover from addictions to drugs or other addictive substances and negative behaviors.
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