Springfield Police collect over 200 pounds of meds on Drug Take-Back Day

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More than 200 lbs. of medications were collected during this year’s Springfield National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Springfield Police Division Officials say.

Officials collected 251 lbs. of prescription medications during the event on Saturday, April 27, said Sgt. Tom Selner with Springfield Police Division Community Response Team. Medications were then destroyed the United State Drug Enforcement Administration.

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“Drug Take-Back Day is a safe way to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted medication,” Selner said. “Medications should never be thrown in the trash or flushed down the toilet.

Collection sites for National Prescription Drug-Take Back Day were held at 3130 E. Main St., 10000 W. National Rd. and 17 W. Johnny Lytle Ave.

Started by the United States DEA, National Prescription Drug Take Back was created with the purpose of helping adults clean out their medicine cabinets.

Last year, the DEA collected and destroyed close to one million pounds, nearly 475 tons, of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs making it the most successful event in DEA history, according to the DEA’s website.

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According to a study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2016 six million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study showed that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet.

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