Neighbor News
SAFE Glen Cove Coalition: Encouraging Community to Shed Meds
SAFE, The City of Glen Cove Mayor's office, Glen Cove Police Department and Glen Cove EMS partnered for "Shed Your Meds" on April 30.
On April 30th SAFE, The City of Glen Cove Mayor’s office, Glen Cove Police Department and Glen Cove EMS partnered on their annual event entitled “Shed Your Med’s”. This prevention program follows the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day – a day that addresses abuse of controlled prescription drugs and safely allows their disposal to avoid youth misuse.
Abuse of prescription medication has become a crucial public safety and public health issue. Every day, 2,000 teenagers use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. They’re primarily accessing these drugs in homes. It can be as easy as opening a cupboard, drawer or medicine cabinet. Prescription drugs are not exempt from causing harm to youth. 12 to 17-year-olds abuse prescription drugs more than they abuse ecstasy, crack, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine combined.
According to the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 3.4% of people aged 12 or older (9.5 million people) misused opioids. The percentage was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (4.1 percent or 1.4 million people), followed by adults aged 26 or older (3.5 percent or 7.7 million people), then by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (1.6 percent or 396,000 people). The vast majority who misused opioids in the past year misused prescription pain relievers.
Find out what's happening in Glen Covefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This year over 100 lbs of unwanted medications were collected. Additionally, personal home medication disposal kits named Deterra were provided by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and given to all those who came to dispose of their unwanted medications. The kit allows individuals to safely dispose at home in between Shed Your Meds event. Kits are available at the SAFE office.
Learn more about National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day at https://wwwdeadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html.
Find out what's happening in Glen Covefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition is conducting an opioid prevention awareness campaign entitled. “Keeping Glen Cove SAFE,” in order to educate and update the community regarding opioid use and its consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovecoalition or visit SAFE’s website to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic at www.safeglencove.org.
