Abuse of prescription drugs, including pain relievers, continues to be a significant problem in United States. In California, 4.7 percent of persons aged 12 or older nationwide reported having used pain relievers nonmedically in the past year according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA data also reveals that 69 percent of people abusing prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.

Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs helps prevent abuse and helps keep pharmaceuticals out of landfills and waterways. Hundreds of locations throughout California will be accepting unused prescription drugs, including controlled substances, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, September 27, 2014.

The event aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. The last National Take Back Day held this past October collected 324 tons of prescription medications nationwide.

Physicians can take action by encouraging their patients to participate. To find a Take Back Day collection site near your practice, click here.

CMA has also produced a flyer to educate patients about proper disposal of prescription medication and National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which can be placed in offices and waiting rooms.

Visit the DEA website to get drug disposal information and locate collection sites. The event lasts from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Contact: Scott Clark, (916) 551-2887 or sclark@cmadocs.org.