Prescription Drug Drop Off Day has been called a huge success by organizers across the country. This past Saturday, May 10, police and community partners worked together to help local residents safely dispose of unused and unwanted medications. We would like to thank The Chatham-Kent Crime Prevention Board, McKesson Canada, Chatham-Kent Public Health, East Side Pride, Family Service Kent Medavie EMS and the CK Drug Awareness Council for their assistance in making this day possible.
At its three locations, the Chatham-Kent Police Service received 57.02 kilograms of prescription medications from just over 40 citizens. Most of the narcotic drugs collected included opiates, amphetamines and barbiturates which all highly dangerous drugs.
This initiative, sponsored by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, will help police keep these drugs out of the hands of those who should not have them. The misuse and abuse of prescription medications has become a public safety issue for communities and police services across the country.
The abuse of prescription medications can lead to incidents of overdose and in some cases, death. Residents are urged to drop off any unused or expired prescription medications at their local pharmacies at any time where they can be disposed of in a safe and environmentally safe manner. To keep prescription medications from our water sources, medications should never be flushed down toilets or washed down drains.
