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National Prescription Drug Take Back Day October 29, 2011

DEA has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. to provide a venue for persons who want to dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs.

The Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) and partners Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Pennsylvania American Water will once again collaborate with the DEA and local law enforcement to provide residents of the Pittsburgh region with a safe and convenient option for disposing of their unwanted pharmaceuticals free of charge.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. More than seven million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 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.

This past spring, the DEA in conjunction with state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States conducted a national Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation participated in these events, collecting more than 188 tons of pills. In the Pittsburgh region, more than 7,300 pounds of unwanted medications were safely collected and disposed of.

For more information and a list of nationwide locations visit the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) website or PRC'S Zero Waste Pittsburgh website or call PRC at 412-488-7452.

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