Watertown Police Holding Prescription Drug Take-Back Event Saturday

The following information was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition:

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. the Watertown Police Department (WPD) is participating in a large scale national drug take-back event organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The WPD will have extra safe and secure drop off containers available for people to safely drop off unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs.

Acceptable items for drop off include:

• All prescription and over-the counter medications
• Narcotics (percocet, vicodin, codeine )
• Veterinary medications

The drop-off location:

Watertown Police Department, Main Lobby, 552 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472

The goal is to combat the abuse of prescription drugs and keep medications out of the wrong hands, particularly teens.

The rates of teens misusing or abusing prescription drugs have been increasing over the past ten years while the perception of risk has been decreasing. The number one place youth get these drugs is from friends or their family’s medicine cabinet. Dr. Michael Klein, director of the FDA Controlled Substance Staff, gives some tips:

• Don’t share your medications, and store them in a safe, secure place.
• Count the pills regularly to make sure no one else is using them.
• If you are having a house party or an open house, make sure the medications are properly secured.

For a complete list of acceptable items for drop off please see the attached flyer