RAYMONDVILLE — Area residents have a place to get rid of prescription drugs they don’t need.
Saturday, the Raymondville Police Department and the Lyford school district police department will work with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to collect Willacy County residents’ unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The public will be able to rid their homes of potentially-dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs,” Rosalie Tristan, coordinator of Communities Against Substance Abuse, or CASA, said in a press release. “The service is free and anonymous — no questions asked.”
The initiative will help take drugs out of the hands of youths.
“By removing unwanted prescription drugs from their homes, the public helps prevent experimentation, addiction, overdose and even death,” Tristan said.
A study shows 66 percent of teenagers who report abusing prescription pain killers get the drugs from their friends and family, the press release states.
“Safely disposing of expired or unused prescription medications is a critical step in helping to protect our teens, your family and home and decrease the opportunity for your teen or their friends to abuse your medicine,” the press release states.
The initiative addresses a public safety and public health concern.
“Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” the press release states.
According to the press release, flushing prescription drugs down the toilet and throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: DEA program helps residents rid homes of unwanted drugs
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday
WHERE: Raymondville Police Department, 523 W. Hidalgo Avenue, Raymondville and Lyford school district, 8204 Simon Gomez St., Lyford
INFO: For more information, contact Tristan at [email protected] or call 956-232-2300.
