Northeast News
April 3, 2013 

If you have unwanted prescription drugs that you need to dispose of, you can get rid of them for free during the April 27 National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day sponsored by Kansas City Police Department’s Central Patrol, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Main Street Corridor Development Corporation/Main Street Community Improvement District.

The service is anonymous and no questions will be asked.

Central Patrol Community Interaction Officer Jim Schriever said the drug take-back days have been successful in the past. During the past five Kansas City drug take-back events, more than 4,000 pounds of medications have been collected. That’s more than two tons’ worth that were environmentally incinerated and were not illegally used, misused, sold on the streets or flushed down the toilet or tossed in the trash, which pollutes our drinking water, rivers, streams and environment.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 47 percent of teens who use prescription drugs said they get them for free from a relative or friend. Ten percent said they buy pain relievers from a friend or relative, and another 10 percent said they took the drugs without asking. Sixty-two percent or 14.6 million teens said prescription pain relievers are easy to get from parents’ medicine cabinets.

The April 27 Prescription Drug Take-Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the MainCor parking lot, 3215 Main St., Kansas City, Mo.