September 23, 2010
Thursday

Alaska, Alaska - Alaska's first statewide safe prescription drug drop-off event Saturday, Sept. 25, has disposal sites from Aniak to Ketchikan. The sites are among thousands to be opened nationwide in an event coordinated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The free public event seeks to prevent pill abuse and theft, as well as environmental damage to our waterways.

Alaska's prescription drug abuse rates have increased seven-fold since 2005. Left-over medications in our homes contribute to child poisonings and potentially fatal recreational or accidental misuse.

Several city, borough, and state agencies, businesses, non profits and government entities teamed up to hold trial disposal events in April 2010. The events went so well the partners formed the Alaska Safe Medicine Alliance to host this statewide disposal event.

WHAT: A free safe disposal event for the public to drop off old or unwanted prescriptions, including pet medications. Locations are supervised by an Alaska State Trooper or local police.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010

WHERE: 45 locations statewide, including the Ketchikan Trooper Post located at 7366 Tongass Highway.

For a site list statewide and put "AK" in the state search field.

WHY: Home medicine cabinets are the source of prescription drugs abused by one in five teens, and are a target for home burglaries. Unsafe disposal, such as flushing old medications, puts potent chemicals in waterways, potentially contaminating drinking supplies and harming fish and other aquatic wildlife.

WHO: This public event is hosted by the Alaska Safe Medicine Alliance and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Health & Social Services
www.hss.state.ak.us

 

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