September 24, 2010

Sen. Carper Calls on Delawareans to “Take-Back” Expired, Unwanted Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) encouraged Delawareans to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) first-ever nationwide prescription drug "Take-Back" initiative to prevent pill abuse and theft. The DEA, along with local government, community, public health and law enforcement partners, will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at fourteen sites across Delaware and more across the nation. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. The event will be held tomorrow, Sept. 25, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Delaware collection sites are listed at the end of the release.

"More Americans abuse prescription drugs than the number of Americans who abuse cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, Ecstasy and inhalants – combined," said Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). "This weekend’s first-ever National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign gives Delawareans an opportunity to get rid of old, unused and potentially dangerous prescription drugs in a safe and responsible way."

The National Take-Back Initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to recreational use, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, 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 home medicine cabinets. Additionally, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

"This is a drug problem that can impact any American home with a medicine cabinet," said Sen. Carper. "One out of five teenagers in America has abused, or is abusing, prescription drugs. As a father, this is an alarming statistic and I urge all Delaware families to clean their cupboards of prescriptions that have been sitting around for far too long or are no longer needed."

As Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security, Sen. Carper has held several hearings and investigations examining the diversion and abuse of controlled substances and other powerful prescription drugs in our nation’s public healthcare system. Last year, Sen. Carper worked with Gov. Jack Markell to champion the adoption of a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in Delaware, which was passed by an overwhelming majority in the General Assembly and signed into law earlier this year.

Below is a list of collection sites in Delaware:

Camden Police Department

Camden Municipal Building

1783 Friends Way

Camden Wyoming, DE 19934

Dagsboro Police Department

Dagsboro Town Hall

33134 Main Street

Dagsboro, DE 19939

DEA – Dover Post of Duty

Dover International Speedway

(tented area, between gates 4 and 5)

1131 North Dupont Highway

Dover, DE 19901

Delaware State University Police Department

Delaware State University Police Department Public Safety Building

(see officer at main gate for access to campus)

1200 North Dupont Highway

Dover, DE 19901

Ellendale Police Department

Ellendale Town Hall

300 McCaulley Avenue

Ellendale, DE 19941

Greenwood Police Department

100 West Market Street

Greenwood, DE 19950

Delaware DOJ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

Middletown Police Department

130 Hampden Road

Middletown, DE 19709

Millsboro Police Department

307 Main Street

Millsboro, DE 19966

Milton Police Department

101 Federal Street

Milton, DE 19968

New Castle County Police

New Castle County Police Department Headquarters

3601 North Dupont Highway

New Castle, DE 19720

Dewey Beach Police Department

Dewey Beach Town Hall

105 Rodney Avenue

Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971

Selbyville Police Department

Selbyville Town Hall

68 West Church Street

Selbyville, DE 19975

Delaware State Police

Delaware State Police – Troop 1A

(Naamans Road and Route 202, next to Target)

Brandywine Parkway

Wilmington, DE 19803

Wilmington Police Department

Rodney Square (northwest corner of square)

11^th Street and Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19801