Drug Take Back Day In Lakewood Set For April 29

LAKEWOOD, OH - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe prescription pills play in role in kickstarting addiction for a majority of American drug addicts. Dr. Nora Vaklow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health, said in 2014 that the drastic increase in the number of prescriptions written for patients plays a significant role in the increasing number of drug addicts in the United States.

For many people, a prescription medication, particularly painkillers, can go unused after a surgery or other medical incident. The medication then sits in a cabinet or drawer and is forgotten. While the drugs may be out of mind, they are not necessarily a muted threat. Children and friends may still have access to the drugs.

April 29 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The Lakewood Police Department is participating in the event and will have officers accepting prescription medication drop-offs at the Lakewood Police Department, 12650 Detroit Avenue, on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Neighboring Rocky River will also participate in the event and will be accepting prescription medications at the Rocky River Police Department, 21012 Hilliard Blvd., on April 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Personal information is not collected during the event, so you don't have to worry about sharing your medical history with neighbors or strangers. The department does ask that you remove all prescription labels prior to arriving at the event. The medications will be held by law enforcement until they can be disposed of properly.

To learn more about how addiction can start in a doctor's office, click here.

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