Mission Health to partner with local law enforcement for national 'Drug Take Back Day' - WLOS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — As the coronavirus pandemic continues, the country's opioid epidemic carries on as well.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of drug overdose deaths increased by nearly 5% from 2018 to 2019 and has quadrupled since 1999.
The 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives in 2019.
In an effort to rid homes of unused and expired prescription medications, Mission Health facilities will be partnering with local law enforcement agencies on Saturday, Oct. 23, to "Crush the Crisis," by collecting those unused medications for proper disposal. The event aligns with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, sponsored by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
HCA Healthcare says hospital staff, volunteers and uniformed law enforcement officers will be present at each collection site to help with the safe and anonymous disposal of your unwanted medications.
Dr. William Hathaway, chief medical officer for Mission Health, says these events help keep leftover, addictive prescriptions from being sold on the streets.
"We know if they're in our hands, then they're not in the hands of those who are susceptible to substance use and that's really critical," Dr. Hathaway says. "We must limit the supply to help the people who suffer from this problem."
These events will be adhering to CDC safety protocols to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, including, but not limited to:
- Universal masking policy
- Appropriate, disposable masks available to all participants and attendees
- Hand sanitizer available
- Social distancing, at least 6 feet from others and not gathering in groups
- Appropriate traffic patterns to collection site (one entry path and one exit path)
- Food and drinks not allowed
CLICK HERE to find an event location near you.
source: https://wlos.com/news/local/mission-health-to-partner-with-local-law-enforcement-for-national-drug-take-back-day
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