'Prescription Drug Take-Back Day' Helps Keep Unused Pills Out Of Children's, Abusers' Hands

TROY (WWJ) -- Around the country this weekend, people were getting rid of their unused prescription drugs as part of National Prescription Drug-Take Back Day.

The Troy Police Department took part in the effort on Saturday where officer Janice Pokley said that each time the station does a collection, it receives about 45 pounds of defunct drugs.

"We have the drug take-back, it is through the DEA," Pokley said. "They do it twice a year -- we have today's date and again we'll do it in the spring time. People come in and they drop off prescription medication that they've had in cabinets, we've asked that everything is taken out of the prescription bottle or the packaging."

Pokley said that the goal of the project it to keep the drugs out of the hands of children or those who may abuse the drugs.

After seven previous Take Back Days spread over almost four years, 780,158 pounds (390 tons) of pills were brought to the 6,072 collection sites that DEA and its 4,423 state, local and tribal law enforcement partners set up on April 26 so the public could discard unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs from medicine cabinets, bedside tables, and kitchen drawers.

The Troy Police Department will continue to participate in the Operation Medicine Cabinet prescription drug take back program throughout the year.  Citizens can bring unwanted prescription drugs to the Police lobby 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays for disposal.