RAYMONDVILLE — It’s called National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.
Tomorrow, Communities Against Substance Abuse, or CASA, will help residents dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs at the Raymondville Police Department and at the Lyford school district’s police department.
The drive is part of a national U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration program aiming to help stop drugs from falling into the wrong hands.
“To prevent misuse of prescription medication, we as parents need to take advantage of this disposal opportunity and keep our families safe, especially our children,” Albert Cavazos, CASA’s vice chairman, stated.
As part of the program, residents can drop off their unwanted prescription drugs at the Raymondville Police Department and the Lyford school district from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
“Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse,” Rosalie Tristan, CASA’s coordinator, stated.
“Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”
Last April, residents from across the country turned in 450 tons of prescription drugs at nearly 10,000 sites as part of the DEA program, according to a press release.
In the past seven years, Americans have dropped off 8.1 million pounds of pills at the program’s sites.
During that time, residents from Corpus Christi to Laredo disposed of about 5,000 pounds of expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs.
“The service is free and anonymous — no questions asked,” Tristan stated.
– Raymondville Police Department, 523 W. Hidalgo Ave, Raymondville
– Lyford school district, 8204 Simon Gomez Road, Lyford
