Carmichaels participating in drug take-back event
CARMICHAELS – On April 26, the Carmichaels Borough Police Department will take part in a nationwide Drug Enforcement Agency drug take-back event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Carmichaels Borough building at 100 W. George St.
For eight years, law enforcement agencies across the country, working in cooperation with the DEA, collected potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. Last year, Americans turned in 324 tons of drugs at 4,114 sites.
“We’ve participated every time. In the last three or four years, we were the only police department in the county that was doing it,” said Carmichaels Borough Police Chief Mike Gyurke. “We have had really good participation. People look forward to it now.”
In 2012, there were 46.42 pounds turned in at the Carmichaels collection site, according to Gyurke. The state total for that year was 25,623 pounds collected from 334 sites.
The DEA started the initiative to address public safety and health issues related to possible diversion, misuse and abuse of these drugs.
“I like getting it off the streets and out of medicine cabinets so people who are not supposed to have it can’t get it,” Gyurke said.
According to the DEA, the rate of prescription drug abuse in the United States has become “alarmingly high.” Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets.
The Food and Drug Administration website recommends methods of disposal for some of these drugs that include, mixing them with household garbage or flushing them down the toilet. For those who do not have a take-back program in their community, the FDA lists 25 medications on its website it deems appropriate for flushing. It suggests nonflushable medications be removed from original containers, mixed with used coffee grounds, kitty litter or dirt and placed in a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid or in a sealable plastic bag.
The DEA has referred to flushing or placing medications into household trash as posing “potential safety and health hazards.”
A U.S. Geological Survey study found trace amounts of one or more pharmaceuticals in 80 percent of water samples it took from 139 streams in 30 states. Blood thinners, hormones, antidepressants and heart medications were among the drugs detected. Some pharmaceuticals are degraded by processes at water treatment facilities but not all. Studies have yet to determine the cumulative effect on humans, especially vulnerable populations such as children, pregnant women and those with health problems.
At the Carmichaels take-back all of the medications received are sealed and that package is given to DEA agents.
“The DEA takes it away and eventually burns it all,” Gyurke said.
Only pills or medicinal patches will be accepted during the take-back. The DEA cannot take liquid medications or needles at its take-back locations.
There is no cost to participate. Those dropping off medication will not be required to answer any questions as anonymity is assured.
In the first eight years of the program the DEA and its partner agencies have safely disposed of 3.4 million pounds of these potentially hazardous substances.