More than 1 ton of unwanted prescription drugs collected in Northwestern District at Oct. 29 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Northwestern District Attorney's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration Agency, local police, seniors and other partners collected over a ton of unwanted prescription drugs on Oct. 29,  exceeding the amount collected during the 2nd National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30 -- despite the surprise October snowstorm.

Hampshire County residents turned in 72 boxes or 1,624 pounds of medications, and Franklin County turned in 19 boxes/584.5 pounds for a Northwestern District total of 91 boxes/ 2,172.5 pounds. The Northwestern District turned in slightly under a ton of drugs for safe disposal by the DEA in April.

Nationwide, more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) were collected at 5,327 Take Back sites in all 50 states and U.S. territories.

According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin and inhalants combined. A majority of teens who abuse prescription drugs obtain them from family and friends, sometimes from their medicine cabinets without  their knowledge.

National Prescription Drug Take Back days are one of four action items in the White House's prescription drug abuse prevention strategy titled "Epidemic: Responding to America's Prescription Drug Abuse Crisis. The other actions are education of health providers, patients, parents and youth; establishing prescription drug monitoring programs in every state and increased enforcement to address "doctor shopping" and "pill mills."