Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor Set to Participate in Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Northern Colorado communities including Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Estes Park and others will be participating in Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29th, 2011. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched this program on September 25 last year to help focus on the importance of proper disposal of medications sitting in family medicine cabinets. If medications are not properly disposed of it can lead to prescription drug abuse in teens and they can pollute our streams, lakes and water supply.

Where can you drop off and properly dispose of your unused prescription medications?

Area drop off locations will be held at the following sites on October 29, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is free and anonymous.

• Fort Collins: Fort Collins Police Services, 2221 S. Timberline Road and and Colorado State University, Green Hall, 750 South Drive
• Estes Park: Estes Park Pharmacy, 600 South Saint Vrain Avenue
• Loveland: Loveland Police Department, 810 E. 10th St.
• Red Feathers: Red Feather Firehouse, 44 Firehouse Lane
• Wellington: Wellington Fire Station #1, 8130 3rd Street
• Windsor: Windsor Police Department, 200 N. 11th (across from Windsor High School)
• Drake: Drake Firehouse, 1461 W. Hwy 34

Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash can cause pollution of lakes, streams and water supplies.

The Prescription Drug Take-Back program addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

[ via Fort Collins Police Services ]