Members of the Anna Junior High School Youth Advisory Committee are working to promote the upcoming observance of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Photo provided.

Youth advisory committee promoting local event

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

The Anna Junior High Youth Advisory Committee, YAC, along with Teresa Goddard, a preventionist from The Fellowship House in Anna meets monthly throughout the school year. 

This month, Goddard said that the YAC members are doing their part to help educate about the importance of properly storing and disposing medications. 

Too often, they note, unused prescription drugs find their way into the wrong hands. That’s dangerous and often tragic. 

According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. 

The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. 

Goddard said that is why the YAC decided to take action by educating our community about the upcoming National Prescription Drug Take Back Day which is set for April 27.  

Take-Back Days are an initiative aimed at providing safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs. 

Each year a Take Back Day is scheduled in April and in October. 

“What better place to begin spring cleaning than in your medicine cabinet,” Goddard stated.

“Gather up all your unused and unwanted medicines that have collected in your medicine cabinet and properly dispose of them.” 

The Cobden Police Department plans to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., unused or expired prescription medication can be safely disposed of at 112 E. Maple St. in Cobden.

Goddard said the YAC members also help spread the word by distributing Guard and Discard posters and postcards, as well as permanent Drug Take Back locations by posting flyers in the area to educate the community where they can safely dispose of unused or unwanted medications at any time throughout the year. 

The flyers include area locations where expired or unwanted medications can be dropped off.

One of the locations is the Anna Police Department at 201 E. Vienna St. in Anna.

Anna Event Also Planned

Anna Police Chief Michael Hunter reported last week that a National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event also is being planned in Anna.

Hunter shared the information at a March 19 meeting of the Anna City Council.

He said the event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 27 at the Walmart supercenter store in Anna.

 

 

The Gazette-Democrat

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

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