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Bay Area Alliance Prescription Drug Advisory Committee Takes It Back
04/13/2011
For more information, please contact:
Amanda McLauchlin – Coalition Manager
281-284-0370 office
409-351-4834 cell
Bay Area Alliance Prescription Drug Advisory Committee Takes It Back
Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 10am to 2pm, the Prescription Drug Advisory Committee of the Bay Area Alliance will be set up at UTMB Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes taking back your expired or unneeded prescription and non-prescription medications. This latest effort to decrease prescription drug abuse is in coordination with a national effort through the Drug Enforcement Agency to remove dangerous controlled substances from community medicine cabinets.
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise throughout the United States and has become especially troublesome in the greater Houston area. “This initiative is so important because it keeps these potentially dangerous medications out of the reach of children,” said Jon D. Thompson, Director of the Southeast Texas Poison Center. “It prevents abuse, misuse, or accidental poisonings by youth as well as adults.”
According to a 2009 study done by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. This effort encourages everyone to do their part in emptying these potentially hazardous drugs from their medicine cabinets.
People interested in dropping off medications are encouraged to leave pills in their original containers with the patient’s name marked out. Participants will just “drive through” the drop-off site at the UTMB Victory Lakes facility where volunteers (including law enforcement and pharmacy personnel) will take medications for proper and secure disposal. Please note that this entire process is completely anonymous and no identifying information other than zip code will be requested or noted.
The Prescription Drug Advisory Committee consists of members from organizations such as Southeast Texas Poison Center, Texas Pharmacy Board, Texas Attorney General’s Office, Dr. William Lee Family Practice, Drug Enforcement Agency, Friendswood Police Department, and Walgreens Pharmacy. For more information, please contact the Bay Area Alliance for Youth & Families at 281-284-0370.
The UTMB Specialty Care Center at Victory Lakes is located at 2240 Gulf Freeway South in League City, Texas.
