5,500 Pounds of Medicines Returned in Drug Take Back Day

On Friday, two of the co-sponsors of the Drug Take Back Day, the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators (NADDI) and the CARES (Collaborating and Acting Responsibly to Ensure Safety) Alliance, cheered the news that almost 5,500 pounds of prescription drugs were turned into pharmacies and law enforcement during the event which was held on Aug. 27.

The Drug Take Back Day addressed a very important public safety and health issue in Florida and was a success thanks to the large turnout of people ridding their medicine cabinets of unused or unwanted drugs, said Charlie Cichon, executive director of NADDI. It really shows how individuals can play a role in alleviating this major problem.

The success of the Drug Take Back Day demonstrates how we must collaborate at the local and state levels to combat prescription drug abuse, said Dr. Herbert Neuman, a spokesman for the CARES Alliance and the vice president of medical affairs and CMO of pharmaceuticals for Covidien. By working together, we not only disposed of unused medications, but also helped educate Floridians about the seriousness of prescription drug misuse and abuse. I am confident this is a step in the right direction toward developing a successful long-term solution to this growing problem.