Prescription Drug “Take-Back Day” Set for Saturday

A no questions asked medicine cabinet drug-return initiative is set for Saturday around the state.

State and local law enforcement officials say it's the first-ever prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative aimed at preventing pill abuse and theft.

Headed by the DEA, the new initiative seeks to prevent increased prescription pill abuse and theft, officials said.

At sites around the state, local law enforcement will be collecting potentially dangerous unused and unwanted or expired prescription drugs for destruction. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. To search for a take-back site by zipcode, to go www.dea.gov.

Last year there were 900,000 prescriptions for Oxycodone filled in the city, drug enforcement officials said. That is 65 percent increase from 2007, according to NY State Dept. of Health data.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America says 2,500 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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