Prescription Drug Take-Back is Sat., April 27

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough hosts three sites where you can safely dispose of your unused, unwanted, or expired medications. It is an anonymous service where everything collected is boxed up and taken for incineration by Alaska State Troopers.

The public has embraced the opportunity these Take-Back Day events provide to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs.  Local law enforcement agencies in thousands of American communities have partnered with the DEA in the previous five events that have taken place since September 2010.

Unused medications in homes create a public health and safety concern, because they are highly susceptible to accidental ingestion, diversion, misuse, and abuse.  Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high--more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health.  The majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet, according to surveys of users.

Collection events are tomorrow, Saturday, April 27th from 10am to 2pm at three Valley locations:
Palmer Fred Meyer
Wasilla Fred Meyer
Talkeetna Sunshine Clinic
 
Anchorage and Eagle River also have several places to turn in your prescriptions as well.
 
Should you have any questions, please give me a call or send me an email. Thanks!
 
Ali Little
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Administration Department
350 E. Dahlia Avenue
Palmer, AK  99645
(907) 745-9557 direct
(907) 745-9669 fax