More than three tons of prescription drugs collected

Residents of the Southern District of Illinois returned over three tons of prescription drugs for destruction on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Steven D. Weinhoeft, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, reported.

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was held on Saturday, April 27.

Now in its ninth year, the biannual nationwide event provides a safe and convenient way for individuals to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription medications. 

According to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, millions of Americans misuse prescription drugs each year. 

A majority of those drugs are obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

The public response so far this year has been tremendous, Weinhoeft said in a news release.

He reported that 6,636 pounds of prescription drugs were collected in the Southern District of Illinois alone. Nationwide, the haul reached 937,443 pounds (468.72 tons) of prescription drugs amassed at more than 6,000 collection sites. 

Nearly 5,000 law enforcement agencies participated in the event. 

The Cobden Police Department and the Anna Police Department were among the law enforcement  agencies which participated in the event.

The 18th National Take Back Day is scheduled on Oct. 26.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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