Contact: Dannielle Meyer, Coalition Coordinator                          FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cell: 832-330-5898

Email: Dannielle.Meyer@bacoda.org

BRAZORIA COUNTY PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

TASK FORCE PARTNERS WITH DEA FOR

NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK ON OCTOBER 22

On October 22^nd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Brazoria County Prescription Drug Task Force, of Brazoria County Community Coalition (BCCC) will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day in Brazoria County. The Take Back is hosted in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to give the public an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to one of four locations across Brazoria County:

• Stella Roberts Recycling Center at 5800 Magnolia in Pearland
• Reflective Bay Park at Shadow Creek at 12115 S. Clear Lake Loop in Pearland
• Manvel Police Department at 6615 N Masters (CR 1128) in Manvel
• Richwood Police Department at 1800 North Brazosport Blvd. in Richwood

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. We are not able to accept sharps but all prescription and over-the-counter medications are accepted. In all previous Take Back events combined, more than 8,000 pounds of pills have been collected in Brazoria County alone.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that sit unused in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.  Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

“We invite residents to help keep our community safe from prescription drug abuse. Take an inventory of the medications in your home and bring any drugs that you no longer need to one of our Take Back locations.” said Coalition Coordinator Dannielle Meyer.

For more information visit www.bacoda.org or call 1-800-510-3111.

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Brazoria County Community Coalition is a project of the Bay Area Council on Drugs and Alcohol (BACODA).  BACODA is a community-based substance abuse prevention organization that provides sustained leadership and support for the Coalition. BACODA is a United Way Agency.