Seal Beach police collected more than 500 pounds of drugs Saturday during the National Take-Back Initiative.
“The community response was overwhelming to this joint effort between the Seal Beach Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. After only 4 hours and two drop off locations, well over 500 pounds of old, expired and unwanted prescriptions and over the counter drugs were dropped off today,” said Seal Beach Chief of Police Keith Kilmer. “As prescription drug abuse reaches an all-time high, the success of this program would not be possible without the support of the Seal Beach community.”
Drop off locations included the Seal Beach Police Department and Leisure World. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will safely dispose of the medications.
There will be additional take-back days scheduled in 2013. However, specific dates have not been determined. Go to the FDA website to learn the proper ways of disposing of medications.
According to the Seal Beach Police Department, “More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Each day, approximately, 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.”
