North Reading Participates in Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

The North Reading community can help prevent pill abuse and theft by emptying their homes of unwanted and unused prescription drugs on Prescription Drug Take-Back day.

Pill owners can drop off their medications at North Reading Police Department, 150 Park St, from 10 a.m. from 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“These take-back programs are a vital public safety and public health service,” North Reading Police Chief Michael Murphy said. “Every prescription pill bottle that goes unused is another one that can be stolen, abused, and misused.”

Prescription Drug Take-Back increases awareness of prescription drug abuse in the U.S., which is at an all-time high. In 2012, 6.8 million Americans abused prescription drugs, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration press release.

The event provides a safe way to rid homes of medications. Disposing of pills by flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posts potential environmental, safety and health hazards, the DEA reported.

The last Take Back event in April collected over 780,000 pounds of prescription drugs from thousands of DEA and municipal police sites across the country. Take Back events amassed over 4.1 million pounds of pills since the event began in 2010.

“We are grateful to all members of the public who take advantage of these services to dispose of their unwanted drugs,” Murphy said.

The event was organized by the North Reading Police Department and the DEA.

If patrons are unable to attend Take Back Day, they can drop off prescription drugs at the two drug disposal kiosks located in the police station lobby at any time.

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